West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris is encouraging drivers in Bath not to wipe away bugs from their number plates this summer, as part of efforts to measure the insect population.
Residents are being encouraged to count bugs on their number plates
Insects across the country are dwindling at a high rate, falling by around 64% over the last 20 years, due to issues including pesticide use and polluted rivers.
Mayor Norris is asking drivers to take part in the annual Bugs Matter Survey, backed by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, to help better understand the challenges the insect population is facing by measuring the number of bug splatters.
The idea is that Bath and North East Somerset drivers clean their number plates before their journeys before counting, photographing, and reporting the number of bugs at the end.
All drivers will need to do is download the Bugs Matter App, which is available for free, then use the app’s “Virtual Splatometer”.
The survey runs until 31st August so there’s plenty of time for “citizen scientists to do their bit for the West’s crawly creatures”, the Mayor said.
Mr Norris is also encouraging residents to take as many bug-friendly actions as possible this summer, having curated a list of five simple steps to help the West’s insects, like gardening without bug-harming pesticides.
Schoolchildren are being given a summer challenge to build “bug hotels” out of simple items like plastic drinks bottles and string, to give the pollinators a home.
Dan Norris said: “Bugs matter in Bath and North East Somerset. But they’ve had a rough old few years – with the climate crisis, habit loss and pesticide use just some of the challenges they face. And that spells trouble for our region.
“Luckily, through steps like taking part in this vital survey so we can build a better picture of the health of our insects, or grabbing some twigs and leafy material from around your garden to build actual bug mansions, we can all do our bit for the West’s vital creepy crawly friends.”
