Insect Conservation and Urban Environments

This overview of the impacts of urbanisation on insect life and of the principles and practice of insect conservation in urban environments brings together examples and urban contexts from many parts of the world, to demonstrate the wide variety of urban threats and possible remedial measures to conserve insects in spaces such as urban parks and home gardens.  Discussion of changes in well studied focal insect groups such as ants and ground beetles along urban-rural gradients, of pest management in urban environments and of the great variety of resources available amongst open ‘green spaces’ and waterbodies facilitate understanding of conservation needs. They show the possibilities for management to protect or restore individual species, entire assemblages and communities, and ecological functions, with that management extending from individual sites to landscape levels to promote connectivity and reduce site isolation by urban developments. ‘Novel habitats’, such as green roofs, are important contributors to this perspective. Participation by all levels of urban humanity, from government agencies to community groups and individuals (as citizen scientists) is needed, and the importance of promoting interests in insects and conservation amongst young people is emphasized.