Interest in the fate of insects is growing across Europe. Now, 13 countries are joining forces to develop a common standard for monitoring these vital creatures.
For life on Earth, insects are indispensable. Many of the plants we rely on for food depend on insects for pollination. Insects also play key roles in decomposing organic matter and serve as food for birds and other animals.
More than one million insect species
Despite their importance, we still know surprisingly little about how to ensure healthy conditions for insect populations.
Globally, more than one million insect species have been described. In Norway, around 20,000 species have been recorded, but many more are likely yet to be discovered.
Norway is one of only a few countries that monitor a broad range of insects at the national level, alongside countries such as Sweden and Germany. Now, other European nations are looking to learn from these efforts.
Thirteen countries are participating in the three-year MetaBUG project, funded by Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership. The project aims to develop and test a common methodology for insect monitoring across Europe. Additional countries may join in the future.
The benefits of a shared approach
– The more data we have, the easier it becomes to understand what affects insect populations, says Jens Åström, Researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).
A harmonised monitoring system will make it easier to compare data across Europe.
– In some European countries, long-term studies have documented dramatic declines in insect abundance. With a coordinated monitoring programme, we will be able to investigate how insect populations are changing across large parts of Europe, and whether similar or different drivers are responsible for these trends in different countries, Åström explains.
Åström leads the Norwegian Insect Monitoring Programme, which was launched in 2020 and is operated by NINA on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency.
Collecting insects and analysing their DNA
From April to October, insect activity reaches its peak in Norway. During this period, researchers collect millions of insects using Malaise traps.
A Malaise trap resembles a tent. Flying insects enter the trap, are guided upwards by the mesh structure, and eventually end up in a collecting bottle filled with alcohol.
A single sample can contain hundreds or even thousands of species. Sorting and identifying all of these insects manually is practically impossible.
Instead, researchers use a technique known as DNA metabarcoding, which allows DNA from many species to be analysed simultaneously.
More than 30,000 species detected in Norway
Based on these DNA analyses, researchers estimate that more than 30,000 insect species have been detected in Norway, according to the latest report from the Norwegian Insect Monitoring Programme. The final number will depend on further manual validation.
The MetaBUG project will test and refine the combination of Malaise trapping and DNA metabarcoding across participating countries. The goal is to demonstrate that a coordinated European monitoring system is feasible and that countries have the capacity to implement it.
Researchers also hope the project will help uncover species and groups that remain poorly known today.
Learn more about the MetaBUG project here
Read the report: Norwegian Insect Monitoring Programme – Field Season 2025 (Abstract in English)