WILTSHIRE Wildlife Trust is urging people to help save insects from extinction in a new campaign.

The Trust believes it the ‘insect apocalypse’ could prove to be the largest extinction since the age of the dinosaurs ended.

There has been a decline in the number of insects across the country and it is said they are dying at a rate of eight times faster than larger animals.

Dr Gary Mantle, the chief executive at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, says humans are to blame.

He said: “Right across the spectrum of plant and animal species we are seeing the the largest extinction since the dinosaurs of insects.

“First of all, those that used to be common are now rare and those that used to be rare is now extinct. Overall we have lost 23 bee and wasp species in the last few years.

“There are a variety of reasons why insects are dying out, because of humans. These range from the destruction of habitats to diseases being spread.

“It’s the impacts of what we have done to the land, the chemicals we have spread.”

Around 41 per cent of insect species in the country face extinction, which will impact all wildlife.

Dr Mantle said: “People should care because it will have a massive effect on us, so much of our food is dependent on pollinators.”

Insects help produce three quarters of the UK’s food crops and are a food source for birds, mammals and fish.

But Dr Mantle claims there are only two ways to help – reducing the use of chemicals and creating bug hubs.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/action-for-insects