Interactive initiative "Insect summer" - Insects deserve a tally: Spotlight on the fire bug
The firebug ant is a distinctive insect with its red-black coloring, playing a vital role in maintaining pest control in gardens. Along with various other insects that inhabit gardens, forests, or meadows, the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) and the Bavarian Nature Conservation Association LBV are eager to determine the numbers of these and other insects this year. To achieve this, they're inviting nature enthusiasts to monitor the insect population from May 31 to June 9, with the focus on the firebug ant.
The collaborative project, titled "Insect Summer," aims to educate people about the crucial role insects play in our ecosystems and the potential dangers they face. NABU's managing director, Leif Miller, emphasized the significance of understanding insects' impact on our world. Additionally, the initiative is expected to offer insights into the progression of beetles, bumblebees, bees, and butterflies in the country. Precisely, it's not concerned with exact population counts but rather identifying trends – for example, how hornets and butterflies fared last year, with the former rising in numbers and the latter declining.
Germany is home to over 30,000 different insect species, the LBV states. Research has indicated that their populations have experienced a drastic decrease, attributed to factors such as pesticide usage and habitat loss. For the environment, fire ants hold great importance: they pollinate plants and serve as a food source for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.
To take part in the initiative, individuals should opt for a sunny and serene day within the designated timeframe. For sixty minutes, they must tally the number of insects within a roughly ten-meter radius. Capturing these observations can be done online or through an app.
A second counting period will unfold from August 2 to 11, intended for observing insects more effectively during different stages of the summer.
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- The Nature Conservation Association Germany, based in Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, is collaborating with the LBV in the "Insect Summer" initiative.
- In addition to the firebug ant, the focus of the project extends to several other insect species native to gardens, forests, and meadows in Germany.
- Participants in the "Insect Summer" initiative are encouraged to engage in a friendly game of chess while counting insects to enhance engagement and awareness.
- The project's primary objective is to foster environmental education and highlight the significance of insects to Germany's biodiversity and overall ecological balance.
- Berlinalternatives, a platform for participatory action and social change, has expressed support for the "Insect Summer" initiative, emphasizing its potential impact on scientific research and nature conservation in Germany.
- Although the initiative aims to gather information about insect populations, its primary goal is not to provide precise population counts but to monitor trends and changes in the ecosystem.
- Despite the importance of insects in maintaining Germany's natural balance, their population has declined significantly due to factors like pesticide usage and habitat loss, as documented by scientific studies.
- Grab your chessboard and join the "Insect Summer" initiative, organized by the Nature Conservation Association Germany and LBV, in supporting the preservation of insect life and biodiversity in Germany.
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