On Friday 13 June 2025, natur&ëmwelt Asbl invited members of the public to participate in the third edition of its insect counting campaign (“Méi wéi Beien! Ziel mat!”).
According to the local nature conservation NGO, the objective of the census is to assess the populations of insect species commonly found in Luxembourg’s residential areas over the years and to identify trends in their numbers – whether they are increasing or declining.
The campaign focuses on insects that can be found in homes and gardens across the Grand Duchy, such as hoverflies, bumblebees and ladybirds. A total of twelve species are included in the count. Natur&ëmwelt have noted that the best time to count them is between 10:00 and 16:00 on a sunny, windless day. They recommend one chooses a sunny spot with plenty of food for insects, such as one’s garden, an orchard or a park.
Natur&ëmwelt stated that the count is also an awareness-raising measure, designed to encourage people to take a closer look at “these fascinating and extremely useful little creatures” and to help them to understand their role in nature better. This awareness is regarded by natur&ëmwelt as crucial, given the alarming decline in biodiversity and the general lack of knowledge about it among the public. They said: “As appreciation and protection depend on knowledge, it is crucial to improve the population's understanding of our natural environment.”
Observations can be added to an online form, which will be active from Saturday 14 June to Sunday 22 June 2025, or via the iNaturalist app available from the 'méi wéi Beien - ziel mat! 2025' project.
The local nature conservation NGO warmly welcomes class participation in the campaign and teachers wishing to participate are invited to request participation forms and teaching materials from natur&ëmwelt by email at communication.asbl@naturemwelt.lu.
At the end of the campaign, as part of a prize draw, the organisers will select ten prize winners from among all the participants.
Additional resources, including the campaign flyer and insect information, can be downloaded at https://we.tl/t-YMHEVpi4Bt.
