Falling into trap:
not all insects are declining
Richard Harrington, Chris Shortall,
Dave Brooks, Jason Chapman
Long term data
1843 – 2011+
1965 – 2011+
Daily data
Elgin
Dundee
Gogarbank
Ayr
Newcastle
Preston
Kirton
Wellesbourne
Hereford
Broom’s Barn
Rothamsted
Silwood
Starcross
Writtle
Wye
Roy Taylor
1924-2007
Vulnerable
50
40
30
20
10
Percentage
10years
years
Percentage change
change over
per 10
>100
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
0
-50
Number of species
60
Endangered
Frequency Distribution of Species Trends
over 40 years in GB for 337 “Common” species
Vulnerable
50
40
30
20
10
Percentage change
change per
over1010years
years
Percentage
>100
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
0
-50
Number of species
60
Endangered
Southern GB
Percentagechange
changeper
over
years
Percentage
1010
years
>100
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
Vulnerable
Endangered
50
-50
Number of species
Northern GB
40
30
20
10
0
Previously Threatened spp. - GB
40 year: 10 year % change
-20
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
35 year: 10 year % change
-20
Dusky Thorn - National
5
Declines of 97.6%
TRIM annual index
4
3
2
1
0
-1
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
Sharp-angled Carpet - National
0.4
Increases of 7.7%
TRIM annual index
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1.0
-1.2
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
The Drinker - National
1.5
Increases of 13.45%
TRIM annual index
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
Rothamsted: all aphids
Log(10)
Abundance
Trends in annual total aphid log abundance at 12 sites
Myzus
persicae
Log10 abundance 01 Jan - 17 Jun
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
Log10 abundance 01 Sep - 31 Dec
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
3.0
Log10 abundance
Jan-Jun (red) Sep-Dec (Blue)
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
Myzus persicae at Rothamsted 1965 - 2011
(2011 is shown in red)
Total to 17 June (n+1)
1000
r 2 = 0.641
100
P < 0.001
10
1
Jan - Feb mean screen temperature °C
Myzus persicae at Rothamsted 1965 - 2011
First suction trap record
(2011 is shown in red)
July
r 2 = 0.740
June
P < 0.001
May
April
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Jan - Feb mean screen temperature °C
7
Hoplia philanthus
Welsh chafer
H. philanthus abundance at Silwood Park
800
Annual Total
600
400
200
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
Year
1995
2000
2005
2010
H. philanthus abundance at Silwood Park
800
Annual Total
600
400
200
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
Year
1995
2000
2005
2010
H. philanthus abundance at Silwood Park
800
Annual Total
600
400
200
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
Year
1995
2000
2005
2010
Culicoides
biting midge
Potential vectors of
bluetongue disease
r2 = 0.2676
P = 0.023
r2 = 0.4508
P = 0.002
r2 = 0.4923
P <0.001
Trends in insect biomass at four sites
Trends in insect abundance at Hereford
Spring
Autumn
Impacts of Climate Change
Impacts of Climate Change
Traits:
Fecundity
Mobility
180
160
140
Number of traps
120
100
80
60
Light Traps
Suction Traps
40
20
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
180
160
140
Number of traps
120
100
80
60
Light Traps
Suction Traps
40
20
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
Year
2000
2010
BBSRC NATIONAL CAPABILITY
Most comprehensive, standardised sampling
scheme for terrestrial invertebrates
Suction trap samples stored –
funding needed to get other groups out
Web access to data available soon – free to
academic users
At least three posts being lost, some changes
are inevitable
Automatic identification –
e.g. barcoding, image analysis (DAISY?)
Every opportunity should be taken to press the
case for long-term data and for taxonomists
Acknowledgements
All Rothamsted Insect Survey past and present
All trap operators
Lawes
Agricultural
Trust