After the journey, the long-term decline in the number of flying insects scattered on cars has been recognized by older drivers. But the latest survey shows that the number of insects found on vehicle boards has dropped by 63% since 2021.

Analysis of records of more than 25,000 travels in the UK since 2021 showed a significant decline in flying insect abundance, although the rate of decline slowed down in 2024.

Citizen scientists using the Bugs Matter App use of Bugs Matter App fell 8% in the Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife survey, down 44% in 2023 and 28% in 2022.

"This huge reduction in insect debris in such a short time is really shocking," said Lawrence Ball of the Kent Wildlife Trust. "We are likely to see the complex effects of the speed of background decline and the short-term decline cycle, perhaps related to the extreme climate in the UK in recent years."

New data show that insects have lower SPLAT rates in all UK countries, with Scotland’s most dramatic drop between 2021 and 2024 at 65%. In England, the number of insect fragments in Wales fell by 62 per cent and in Northern Ireland it fell by 55 per cent.

Scientific investigations of other UK-based insect research, such as butterflies and moths, also reveal a sharp decline in recent times.

"The latest error problem data suggests that a large number of flying insects in our rural areas have fallen again. The consequences can be far-reaching, affecting not only the health of the natural world, but also the many basic services nature provides us.

“Human activities continue to have huge impacts on nature, habitat loss and damage, pesticide use, pollution and climate change, which all lead to the decline of insects. Society must be aware of warning signs of ecological collapse and take urgent action to restore nature.”

Among those who participated in the Bugs Matter survey were engineers from the telecom company OpenReach, who contributed 10% of the registration journey that recorded errors.

The survey was rebooted from Saturday, May 1 (Saturday) in 2025 and will expand to the Republic of Ireland this year until September 30. Anyone can download the free mobile app and start recording insect debris during vehicle travel.