The insects are dying, the numbers say it, scientists confirm it, we see it – if we are quite attentive – in our gardens, more and more silent and “empty”. The phenomenon also affects protected areas, even those that should be protected from our impact. And the consequences are reflected on the whole network of life: birds that depend on insects to feed are decreasing, and with them many other animals that make up the fragile balance of biodiversity.
In front of such a vast problem, one might think of the only usefulness of systemic solutions, which start from above to involve different sectors of a country, and in part it is true. They are needed courageous policies, severe regulations, agricultural reforms. But there is also room for individual actions, because there are simple gestures that, if repeated by millions of people, can make the difference. Here are ten ways, concrete and accessible, to help insects to survive in the world we are building.
Turn off the lights
Artificial lights confuse insects, attract them, trap them and kill them. According to scholars, about a third of the insects that orbit around a light bulb dies before dawn. Light pollution alters natural rhythms and also prevents some plants from being correctly eaten. The solution? Simple: turn off what is not needed, such as garden lamps, signs and decorative lights. If you really can’t do without it, use movement sensors, or reduce power. In the dark, sometimes, life is hidden.
Water
It seems trivial, but it is essential. Insects, especially during hot periods, struggle to find water. A bowl in the garden, a small pond, a fountain with stones where you can pose can become real survival oasis. The bees, for example, do not know how to swim: they need surfaces where to stop without drowning. And be careful: dirty water, with leaves or organic residues, is perfect, because it contains useful nutrients and simulates the natural environment.
Follow the 3x3x3 method
Three plants for each season – spring, summer, autumn – chosen from the native varieties. Three specimens for each species, planted in separate areas. It is the principle of the 3x3x3 method, designed to guarantee blooms distributed throughout the year. In doing so, it offers continuous food to pollinators. It is a simple gesture, but with a great impact, which also helps to create a more colorful, resistant and alive garden.
Choose key plants
Among the native plants, there are some that more than others nourish biodiversity. We call them “key plants”. A single oak tree, for example, can accommodate hundreds of caterpillars, and some varieties of birch and cherry trees do the same. Cultivating these plants means building entire ecosystems. Where a oak is planting, birds also return.
Let things degrad
In nature, nothing is clean. The rotten wood, the dry leaves, the fallen branches are fundamental for many insects. Removeing them by “order” or “beauty” means subtracting refuges and nourishment. If you have a corner of the garden where you can do it, let the organic matter be transformed. In that decomposition process, invisible and at the same time useful, new lives are built.
Avoid pesticide and desert handmade
The pesticides are poison, for insects they are a condemnation. Even herbicides, like glyphosate, directly affect the immune system of invertebrates. Using your hands – instead of chemicals – to remove weeds is an ancient gesture, but today revolutionary. It is good for insects, the earth, and also to those who practice it.
Create shadow areas
With climate change, temperatures become unpredictable. And for insects, excessive heat can compromise the life cycle. Offer shady areas – with shrubs, trees or even light structures – allows them to find shelter. It is a small relief, but it can make a difference in the most critical days.
Cut the lawn less
Cut the grass too often is equivalent to depriving the insects of their habitat. In England, the “No Mow May” campaign invites you not to mow the lawn throughout the month of May (I recommend extending even in the hottest moments of the summer, to avoid damage). But why stop there? Let that grow wild flowers and spontaneous plants also in other months makes the garden more hospitable for bees, butterflies and beetles. The high grass is not neglect, it is cure.
Spread wild flowers seeds
An abandoned flowerbed, a roundabout, a roadside. Often a handful of seeds is enough to transform them into colored shelters, easily available in supermarkets, nurseries, specialized shops and also on the web. And you can also build small dispenser to sow while walking, because every flower that blossoms in a degraded area is an invitation to life.
Report invasive species
The most dangerous enemies, for many native insects, are invasive species. The Asian hornet, for example, can destroy an entire hive in a few days, therefore, learning to recognize them and report them to the competent authorities, is an act of ecological citizenship. In many countries there are apps and sites dedicated to the containment of the problem: a few clicks are enough to contribute to the defense of local biodiversity.
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