""Frankly, the amount of volunteer effort in the U.S. gives us really one of the best insect datasets in the world," says Collin Edwards."
""It doesn't sound like much, but 1 or 2% decline per year of any group is absolutely phenomenal when you compound that over more than one decade," says David Wagner."
""The median species declined by more than 40%. That was where it really hit me that this is really big," says Collin Edwards."
"Only about 3% of the 554 species examined saw their numbers increase over this time period, indicating a concerning decline for the majority."
A comprehensive analysis of over 12.6 million butterfly sightings reveals that U.S. butterfly populations have declined by an average of 22% since 2000. This alarming drop, documented by more than 30 researchers, reflects widespread declines across various species in all regions of the country. Only about 3% of the species studied saw increased numbers, primarily those thriving near human developments. The median species experienced a more than 40% decline, highlighting a significant loss in biodiversity that underscores an urgent ecological crisis.
Read at www.npr.org
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