Abstract Here we build on the manifesto ‘World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity, issued by the Alliance of World Scientists. As a group of conservation biologists deeply concerned about the decline of insect populations, we here review what we know about the drivers of insect extinctions, their consequences, and how extinctions can negatively impact humanity. We are causing insect extinctions by driving habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, use of polluting and harmful substances, the spread of invasive species, global climate change, direct overexploitation, and co-extinction of species dependent on other species. With insect extinctions, we lose much more than species. We lose abundance and biomass of insects, diversity across space and time with consequent homogenization, large parts of the tree of life, unique ecological functions and traits, and fundamental parts of extensive networks of biotic interactions. Such losses lead to the decline of key ecosystem services on which humanity depends. From pollination and decomposition, to being resources for new medicines, habitat quality indication and many others, insects provide essential and irreplaceable services. We appeal for urgent action to close key knowledge gaps and curb insect extinctions. An investment in research programs that generate local, regional and global strategies that counter this trend is essential. Solutions are available and implementable, but urgent action is needed now to match our intentions.

中文翻译：

---

科学家就昆虫灭绝向人类发出警告

摘要 在这里，我们以世界科学家联盟发布的宣言“世界科学家”对人类的警告为基础。作为一群深切关注昆虫种群减少的保护生物学家，我们在这里回顾了我们对昆虫灭绝的驱动因素及其后果的了解，以及灭绝如何对人类产生负面影响。我们正在通过推动栖息地丧失、退化和破碎化、污染和有害物质的使用、入侵物种的传播、全球气候变化、直接过度开发以及依赖其他物种的物种共同灭绝而导致昆虫灭绝。随着昆虫灭绝，我们失去的不仅仅是物种。我们失去了昆虫的丰富性和生物量、跨空间和时间的多样性以及随之而来的同质化、生命之树的大部分，独特的生态功能和特征，以及广泛的生物相互作用网络的基本部分。这种损失导致人类赖以生存的关键生态系统服务下降。从授粉和分解，到成为新药资源、栖息地质量指示等，昆虫提供了必不可少且不可替代的服务。我们呼吁采取紧急行动，弥合关键知识差距并遏制昆虫灭绝。投资于能够产生应对这一趋势的本地、区域和全球战略的研究项目至关重要。解决方案是可用且可实施的，但现在需要采取紧急行动来符合我们的意图。从授粉和分解，到成为新药资源、栖息地质量指示等，昆虫提供了必不可少且不可替代的服务。我们呼吁采取紧急行动，弥合关键知识差距并遏制昆虫灭绝。投资于能够产生应对这一趋势的本地、区域和全球战略的研究项目至关重要。解决方案是可用且可实施的，但现在需要采取紧急行动来符合我们的意图。从授粉和分解，到成为新药资源、栖息地质量指示等，昆虫提供了必不可少且不可替代的服务。我们呼吁采取紧急行动，弥合关键知识差距并遏制昆虫灭绝。对能够产生应对这一趋势的本地、区域和全球战略的研究项目进行投资至关重要。解决方案是可用且可实施的，但现在需要采取紧急行动来符合我们的意图。