insect – Palm Oil Detectives

Research: Climate Change Collapsing Insect Numbers by 63%

Almost all insect data comes from a few very well-studied groups – in particular, butterflies, moths and bees. Shutterstock

The world may be facing a devastating “hidden” collapse in insect species due to the twin threats of climate change and habitat loss. #Palmoil 🪔 #soy #meat 🥩 and #cocoa 🍫 #agriculture along with #climatechange and #habitatloss in rainforests is driving #insects to the edge of #extinction. Take action by going #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4WildlifeContinue reading “Research: Climate Change Collapsing Insect Numbers by 63%”

Strange Species Could Vanish Before Discovery

Rainforests sustain stunning numbers of insect species, such as this Horny Devil Katydid from Ecuador. Copy Morley Read/Shutterstock.

Scientists have described around 1.5 million species on Earth – but how many are still out there to be discovered? This is one of the most heated debates in biology. Discounting microbes, plausible estimates range from about half a million to more than 50 million species of unknown animals, plants and fungi.

Our present knowledge is just scratching the surface. Evolution has had billions of years to create biologically active compounds that can combat human diseases, generate genetic diversity that could save our food crops from disastrous pathogens, and spawn ecological innovations that can inspire marvellous new inventions. Help the rarest and most cryptic animals, plants and fungi to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #Boycott4Wildlife

Green Dragontail Lamproptera meges

Green Dragontails could arguably be called the most exquisite and beautiful butterflies alive.

They flutter through sunlit patches of leaves near to streams and rivers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and northeastern India.

They are mostly black and white with a bright turquoise or light green band running roughly parallel to their abdomens.

Their forewings feature a stunning glass-like transparent triangle known as a hyaline. Their tail features a star-like galaxy pattern that glints in sunlight.

It has been over a decade since they were last surveyed, their range overlaps significantly with areas already cleared for palm oil. Help their survival and use your wallet as a weapon! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife