Researchers in Canada are using artificial intelligence (AI) to study the rapid extinction of insects and find ways to stop it. This work is part of a project called Antenna, led by the Montreal Insectarium.
“Insect extinction is happening 1,000 times faster than past mass extinctions,” said Maxim Larrivee, the insectarium’s director. He explained that the decline is so fast that it’s hard to track, making it difficult to take action in time.
The Antenna project collects data both in the lab and in nature. Inside the insectarium, researchers observe butterflies, ants, and praying mantises under a large glass dome. They’ve also set up solar-powered camera traps in places like Canada’s far north and Panamanian rainforests. These cameras take photos every 10 seconds of insects attracted to UV light.
New technology, including high-resolution cameras, affordable sensors, and AI models, could help double the amount of biodiversity data collected in just a few years—more than what has been gathered in the last 150 years, Larrivee noted.
Why Saving Insects Matters
Insects play a key role in maintaining life on Earth, but their populations are shrinking due to climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use. Scientists hope the Antenna project will provide better data to help governments and environmental groups create policies to protect biodiversity.
Globally, there are about 10 million insect species, but only 1 million have been studied. AI can help document the rest. For example, when researchers tested their sensor systems in Panama, they identified 300 new species in just one week.
The Role of AI in Conservation
Currently, the Antenna project is focusing on moths, which are easy to identify and important for the food chain. The AI tools being developed could later help identify new species in deep seas or detect harmful pests in agriculture.
The project also aims to educate the public. Visitors to the Montreal Insectarium can take photos of butterflies and use an app to identify the species.
French tourist Camille Clement supports using AI for ecology but emphasizes it should be done carefully. “We need to use it wisely,” she said.
With AI, researchers hope to slow down insect extinction and protect the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.
Source: phys
