The Guardian reports conservationists said animals were eerily still as they tried to shelter from the heat. Experts fear that record-breaking temperatures could cause a further collapse in insect numbers, with bumblebees and butterflies among those most affected.
iNEWS exclusively report that adult butterflies survive the heat by seeking shade, but young caterpillars could be left scorched and starving, conservationists warn.
BBC News reprots people are being encouraged to count the number of butterflies they see over the next three weeks – as part of efforts to protect them from extinction.
BBC News reports ticks have become a year-round threat because of climate change, experts have warned. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection which causes a range of health problems, can be spread to humans from some tick bites.
The Guardian and The Times report half of Britain’s butterfly species are now listed as threatened with extinction after five more joined the new “red list” of endangered butterflies.
The Daily Telegraph reports dwindling sightings of the insects mean people are being encouraged ‘rewild’ their garden by leaving parts of it for nature. A poll of over 2,000 people by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine found that 54 per cent of people had created an “uncultivated area” in their garden last year, up 11 per cent on the year before.
Kate Bradbury, wildlife editor at the magazine, said gardeners keen to help boost butterflies could also resist the urge to clear up dead leaves or cut back dead stems from which chrysalides might be hanging.
The Guardian reports many urban gardens rich in pollinator-friendly plants and provide food all year round, find Bristol researchers.
The New Scientist reports the oak processionary moth (OPM), an invasive species in northern Europe with caterpillars that are toxic to humans and other animals, expanded its range at an increased speed in the years following its arrival in the UK, despite government efforts to contain it.
The BBC reports dragonflies are moving northwards across Britain and Ireland as temperatures rise. More than 40% of species have increased their distribution since 1970, while only about 10% have declined, according to a new report.
Experts from the British Dragonfly Society say it’s an indicator of the effects of climate change. There is concern over the loss of populations of insects due to factors such as pollution and habitat loss.
The BBC reports scientists say light pollution may be contributing to “worrying” declines in insects seen in recent decades. In a UK study, artificial street lights were found to disrupt the behaviour of nocturnal moths, reducing caterpillars numbers by half.
Modern LED streetlights appeared to have the biggest impact. There is growing evidence that insect populations are shrinking due to the likes of climate change, habitat loss and pesticides. Factors are complex and varied, including the steady loss of forests, heathlands, meadows and marshes, overuse of pesticides, climate change and pollution of rivers and lakes.