Study of Met Office data one of first to show how nocturnal insects affected by factors such as light pollution

Scientists have used Met Office radar data to track the trillions of insects flying above the UK for the first time, revealing a concerning decline in nocturnal species.

The team repurposed data from the UK’s network of 15 weather surveillance radars, which scan the sky hundreds of times a day.

Between 2014 and 2021, daytime insect numbers remained relatively stable or even increased in southern regions, but night-time-airborne insects declined overall, especially in the far north, the analysis suggests.