Evaluating the link between chemicals and declining insect populations

Employing a library of more than 1,000 chemicals, EMBL scientists and collaborators (Institut Pasteur, Heidelberg University Hospital, The George Washington University) investigated how agrochemicals affect insect populations. The scientists found that exposure to non-fatal amounts of 57% of the chemicals altered behaviour in fruit fly larvae, while higher levels compromised long-term survival after acute exposure. These observations were worsened when the ambient temperature increased by four degrees. An expanded investigation including mosquitoes and butterflies resulted in similar behavioural changes. These findings underscore that chemical use contributes to worldwide insect population decline by adversely affecting development and behaviours – findings that provide avenues to improve chemical safety assessment, environmental protection, food security, and animal and human health.

Find out more