Germany Counts Its Insects

BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 09: A common carder bumblebee (bombus pascuorum, in German called an Ackerhummel) prods flowers for nectar in an urban garden in the city center on August 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland, or Federation for Nature Protection Germany), Germany's biggest NGO for conservation and the study of nature, is leading an "insect summer" project that calls on volunteers across Germany to take an hour and count the various insects they find in a particular location. Thousands of people, both in urban and rural locations, are taking part. The project, which runs through August 12, is designed to raise public awareness over Germany's insect diversity. A study released last year conducted by entomologists over several years showed a strong decline in the shear numbers of insects in Germany, presumably due to the use of pesticides by farmers and the disruption of natural habitats. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)