Invertebrates are the unseen foundation of life across Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur. They pollinate plants, recycle nutrients, build and maintain soils, regulate pests and provide the primary food source for countless birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Remove invertebrates, and entire ecosystems unravel.

From alpine meadows and Mediterranean scrub to wetlands, forests and steppe landscapes, invertebrates drive the processes that keep habitats functioning. Many plants rely on specific insects for pollination. Many birds time their breeding to peaks in insect abundance. Bats, reptiles and amphibians depend almost entirely on them for survival.

Despite their importance, invertebrates are often overlooked because most are small, seasonal or hidden from view. Yet they make up the vast majority of animal life in the region and underpin every food web.

Across Europe, invertebrates are declining at unprecedented rates and PACA is no exception. The causes are multiple, cumulative and largely human-driven.

Habitat loss and fragmentation
Urban expansion, infrastructure, intensive agriculture and land abandonment have reduced and fragmented the habitats invertebrates depend on. Small, isolated populations are less resilient to change.

Agricultural intensification
The loss of traditional low-intensity farming has been devastating. Herbicide and pesticide use, monocultures and the removal of hedgerows and field margins have stripped landscapes of food and shelter.

Pollution and water abstraction
Freshwater invertebrates are particularly vulnerable to declining water quality, altered river flows and the loss of wetlands.

Artificial light
Night-flying insects are disrupted by artificial lighting, affecting feeding, reproduction and migration.

Climate change
Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and extreme weather events are pushing many species beyond their tolerance limits, especially those adapted to stable microclimates.

The result is a quieter landscape: fewer insects in summer, fewer birds in spring, and weakened ecosystems overall.

The decline of invertebrates does not stop with insects themselves. It cascades through the entire natural system:

• Fewer insects mean fewer insect-eating birds and bats
• Reduced pollination affects wildflowers and crops
• Degraded soils impact plant growth and water retention
• Ecosystems become less resilient to climate stress

Protecting invertebrates is therefore not a niche concern — it is central to biodiversity conservation as a whole.

The good news is that invertebrates respond quickly when conditions improve. Recovery is possible and often rapid, when habitats are restored and pressures reduced.

Protecting and restoring habitats
Wildflower-rich grasslands, wetlands, scrub, hedgerows, old trees and dead wood are all vital. Connectivity between habitats allows populations to recover and spread.

Supporting low-intensity land use
Traditional grazing, extensive farming and seasonal management create structurally diverse landscapes that benefit a wide range of species.

Reducing chemical use
Minimising pesticides and herbicides in gardens, farms and public spaces has immediate benefits for insects and the species that depend on them.

Rethinking lighting
Reducing unnecessary night lighting and using wildlife-friendly designs helps nocturnal insects recover.

Observation, not collection
Modern conservation relies on recording and observation rather than collecting specimens. Photography and citizen science now play a key role in understanding and protecting invertebrates.

Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur is not only rich in invertebrates — it is also a region where new species are still being discovered and where some invertebrates are found nowhere else in France, or even the world. This reflects both the complexity of the region’s landscapes and how much remains to be learned about its smaller wildlife.

Several true endemics and extremely localised species have been formally described in recent years, often restricted to single massifs, valleys or cave systems. Examples include:

• Crau Cricket (Prionotropis rhodanica) — a protected grasshopper, endemic to the Crau plain where it is threatened with extinction
• Var Scorpion (Buthus balmensis) — a scorpion species described in 2022, confined to limestone habitats of the Sainte-Baume massif
• Mont Agel Pseudoscorpion (Neobisium montisageli) — known only from Mont Agel in the Alpes-Maritimes
• Peille Pseudoscorpion (Roncus peissensis) — restricted to a small area near Peille
• Baume Fère Pseudoscorpion (Acanthocreagris heurtaultae) — described from a single cave system in the Var
• Mercantour Funnel-web Spider (Tegenaria mercanturensis) — endemic to parts of the Alpes-Maritimes

Alongside these discoveries, ongoing surveys continue to refine our understanding of dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers and other insects across the region, often revealing previously overlooked populations or highly localised distributions.

These species underline an important reality: some of PACA’s invertebrates exist nowhere else, and their survival depends entirely on the protection of very specific habitats. Their continued discovery is both a reminder of the region’s biological richness and a responsibility to manage it with care.

Protecting invertebrates is not limited to reserves, protected areas or remote landscapes. Much of the future of insects and other invertebrates will be decided in gardens, balconies, villages, farmland edges and urban green spaces.

Small changes, repeated across thousands of homes and communities, can create a powerful network of refuges.

Leave Space for the Wild

Neat, heavily managed spaces offer little for invertebrates. Allowing areas to grow naturally — even in small corners — provides shelter, breeding sites and overwintering habitat.

• Leave patches of long grass or unmown lawn
• Retain leaf litter, dead stems and fallen branches where safe to do so
• Avoid excessive pruning and tidying, especially outside winter

Messy, layered spaces are often the richest in life.

Plant for Insects, Not Just for Appearance

Many invertebrates depend on specific native plants for feeding or reproduction. Ornamental plants may look attractive but often provide little ecological value.

• Choose native or locally adapted plants where possible
• Include flowering plants that provide nectar across the seasons
• Plant host plants for caterpillars, not just nectar sources for adults

Diversity is key: a mix of grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees supports far more species than uniform planting.

Reduce Chemicals

Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides — even when used sparingly — can have devastating effects on invertebrate populations.

• Avoid chemical treatments in gardens and shared spaces
• Accept some insect damage as part of a healthy ecosystem
• Encourage natural predators rather than trying to eliminate insects

A garden without chemicals quickly becomes more balanced and resilient.

Create Micro-Habitats

Invertebrates need more than flowers. Simple features can make a significant difference:

• Small piles of stones or logs for shelter
• Bare, sunny patches of soil for ground-nesting insects
• Shallow water sources for insects during dry periods

These features require little space and minimal maintenance.

From Small Actions to Big Impact

Individually, these actions may seem modest. Collectively, they create a connected mosaic of habitats that allow invertebrates to survive, recover and move through the landscape.

By making space for invertebrates, we support the entire web of life they sustain — and help ensure that the landscapes of Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur remain vibrant, resilient and alive.