Anja Murray: We are facing an insect apocalypse but recovery is still possible

We have 100 different species of bees in Ireland, and we know that more than half of these have suffered substantial declines since 1980

It is now time to do the things we know are needed to prevent further collapse of insect populations. Picture: iStock

Most of us readily admit to liking animals. What we don’t tend to realise is that more than half of all the animal species in Ireland are insects.

On this little island alone, there are upwards of 11,000 different species of insect. We appreciate and admire the more charismatic species such as bumblebees, butterflies, ladybirds, and even songful grasshoppers.