by Golden Nature
May 24, 2019
from YouTube Website

The world’s insect population has declined by three quarters in the last 30 years and many species have become extinct.

 

And it's all man's fault...

 

This documentary looks at the dramatic consequences of this hitherto unrecognized catastrophe.

The results of long-term monitoring published in 2017 have confirmed that as much as 75 percent of the world’s insect population has disappeared in the last 30 years.

 

The extent of species extinction is so vast that many researchers fear that it will knock the entire natural cycle of life out of balance.

 

Not only the decline of the bee population but mass insect mortality as a whole will have devastating consequences for all the Earth’s inhabitants.

 

Top scientists from around the globe are warning that the developments are much more widespread and serious than anyone had realized. Many animals feed on insects.

 

Insects also help to convert dead tissue into nutrient-rich soil.

 

In addition, they even regulate each other. Species that humans see as pests are often the preferred prey of useful predators.

 

But massive human intervention has thrown the functioning balance in the insect world out of whack.

 

Chemical poisons, the progressive sealing of soils and the widespread use of fertilizers are affecting the world's most species-rich animal class.

 

This documentary looks at current studies and explains what is going wrong and where urgent action is needed.

 

There's still some hope:

although many species have been irrevocably lost, mass extinction in the insect kingdom could still be stopped - but only if humans finally begin to act against it.

And we're running out of time...

Insects aren't given the respect they deserve.

 

Some may regard them as annoyances, or might overlook them altogether, but the members of the insect population play an essential role in the comforts and ultimate survival of the human species. In short: we disrespect them at our peril.

 

Produced by the DW Documentary series, 'The Insect Apocalypse' examines the dramatic population decline among insects in recent decades, and what it spells for the future of life on Earth.

Just how severe is this population crisis?

 

The world's insect populations have suffered profound declines of up to 75%, and many species may become extinct in the coming decades.

 

Bumblebees, butterflies, and moths are among the most vulnerable.

The lion's share of the blame lies with us. On no uncertain terms, the film makes it clear that man's footprint has taken its toll on the natural order.

Through a series of studies featured in the film, we can witness this stark reality at work.

 

Chemicals, widespread deforestation, water and land pollution, and climate change are the main culprits.

In one segment, we learn how harmful pesticides affect the heart rate of bees as they search for food, and result in disorientation, sluggishness and death.

 

According to the film, this has proven especially disastrous for wild bees, as they are crucial in the pollination of our plants, fruits and vegetables.

Insects represent the first level of our food chain, and we also rely on them to perform nature's dirty work. They're the cycle of life that powers our ecosystem.

 

Every insect has its own crucial function, and the depth of their contributions is not yet fully known.

 

Their survival also ensures the vitality of our birds, frogs, fish and other amphibious life.

Throughout the film, a panel of entomologists testifies to the various benefits of maintaining a thriving insect population, and demonstrates the steps that must be taken to curb this progressive epidemic.

 

Some are even harvesting their own subspecies.

'The Insect Apocalypse' is an engaging and informative look at an epidemic with far-reaching consequences we cannot yet fully comprehend, and the role we all can play in combating it.

Source