People are being warned not to kill flies, wasps and bees this summer as the number of flying insects has rapidly declined.
A new study revealed that flying insect numbers have plunged by 65 percent in England over the last 18 years.
The research carried out by Buglife and the Kent Wildlife Trust asked members of the public to count the number of insects splatted against their car’s number plates.
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The number was then compared it to a similar study from 2004, and the results dramatically showed their population was down by 65 percent in England alone.
The conservation charities also found numbers in Scotland were down 28 percent.
Paul Hadaway, the director of conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "The results from the Bugs Matter study should shock and concern us all.
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"We are seeing declines in insects, which reflect the enormous threats and loss of wildlife more broadly across the country.
"These declines are happening at an alarming rate and without concerted action to address them we face a stark future. Insects and pollinators are fundamental to the health of our environment and rural economies,” he added. "We need action for all our wildlife now by creating more and bigger areas of habitats, providing corridors through the landscape for wildlife and allowing nature space to recover."
Although it may be appealing to install your home with traps, fly swats and sticky paper during the summer months, it’s been revealed that shooing them outside is the better option to help with their population.
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Yorkshire Live reported that those with a garden can set up an insect house outside, while sticking to real grass rather than astro turf.
Other tips include mowing the lawn less regularly to provide a home for more bugs and creating log piles for beetles to chow down on.
Lisa McLoughlin