THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF INSECTS
The Society for the Protection of Insects (SPI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on protecting insect biodiversity in the U.S. SPI is operated by a group of grassroots scholars, advocates, and everyday citizens. Our work spans research, analysis, litigation, legislative advocacy, and everything in between.The Society for the Protection of Insects (SPI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on protecting insect biodiversity in the U.S. SPI is operated by a group of grassroots scholars, advocates, and everyday citizens. Our work spans research, analysis, litigation, legislative advocacy, and everything in between.
Insects are an underappreciated but vital part of our biosphere. In addition to providing essential ecosystem services like pollination and decomposition, they are a major food source for many birds, mammals, reptiles, and other beloved creatures. Unfortunately, human activity threatens to drive many insect species into extinction and tear apart ecosystems in the process. 80% of insect biomass has disappeared in the last 25-30 years, and one-third of insect species are currently endangered. It is time for environmentally conscious people to take action for these important critters.
SPI is currently focusing on five campaigns to protect insects and other wildlife. If any sound interesting to you and you would like to get involved, please contact us!
SPI’s Citizen Science Initiative (CSI) aims to track the presence of threatened species and get more people involved in insect conservation. We are asking biology experts, wildlife-loving amateurs, and everyone in between to send us their pictures of endangered insects. We recommend using iNaturalist or a similar app to help identify the species. Please email us pictures at [email protected]!
Pesticides and the threat they pose to wildlife entered public discussion when Rachel Carson published her 1962 classic, Silent Spring. While they are a critical part of modern agriculture, pesticides are also one of the main drivers of extinction in insects. Through insects, these chemicals also travel up the food chain to the larger animals that feed on them. SPI is conducting research into the most effective ways to limit pesticide use and make it less damaging to ecosystems. We are also working to spread awareness about the problems associated with pesticides.
Like all other life forms, insects are vulnerable to the devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change. Climate change harms insects by changing or narrowing their habitat range, eliminating the plant species insects rely on, and increasing the rate of natural disasters. We join a broad coalition of other environmental groups in demanding that the world’s nations limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. In addition, SPI is aggregating research on the ways climate change will impact insects and other terrestrial invertebrates.
Pathogen escape from insect farms is a major threat to the health of wild insects. In the U.S., diseases from commercial pollinators have been a major cause of declines in wild pollinator populations, including the rusty patched bumble bee. SPI is working to protect the rusty patched bumble bee from pathogen escape and other threats because of its role as a critical pollinator in the Eastern U.S.
Habitat loss is one the biggest (if not the biggest) threats to wild insects. It is driven in large part by agriculture and urban development. SPI is lobbying businesses and policymakers to stand against the destruction of insect habitat and raising awareness about the need to conserve wilderness.
