Last year, 40% of honey-bee colonies in the US died. But bees aren't the only insects disappearing in unprecedented numbers.
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- During the winter, about 40% of honey bee colonies in the US perished.
- Honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of US crops every year. Their decline has a major impact on our food production and supply.
- But the honey bee is just one of many insects in decline — 40% of the world's insect species are in decline, according to a February 2019 study.
- The die-offs are happening primarily because insects are losing their habitats to farming and urbanization. The use of pesticides and fertilizers is also to blame, and so is climate change.
- The rapid shrinking of insect populations is a sign that the planet is in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.
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It may feel more natural to fret about wolves, sea turtles, and white rhinos dying off than it is to feel remorse about vanishing bugs.
But the loss of insects is a dire threat — one that could trigger a "catastrophic collapse of Earth's ecosystems," according to a February 2019 study.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- The iconic tree thought to have inspired 'The Lorax' has suddenly died — and the whole species is at risk of extinction
- 3 people were attacked by sharks in North Carolina this month. Here's what might be going on and why they all survived, according to experts.
- 18 signs we're in the middle of a 6th mass extinction