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Anthony revealed that he, too, had once been a Walter. Anyone teased as a child for their supposedly "quirky" interests warmed to him at once, especially when we heard that being a Walter had led him to Oxford to study Zoology, Cambridge for his PhD, and eventually to Stockholm University. From there, he took us on a fascinating journey into the question: are we really on the brink of a life-threatening "Insectogeddon"?

Judging from the noise in the media and online, one could easily believe so. Posts proclaim doom with absolute certainty: "If the insects die, we die. Why isn't every news outlet shouting about this?" Anthony, however, prefers a calm, evidence-based approach, which we found refreshing.

Through a series of clear researched examples, he showed that while some declines are real and concerning, the picture is far more nuanced than the loudest voices admit. This was cheering news, especially for the chocolate industry, which relies on insect pollination to the tune of 80 billion dollars a year. A thoughtful hush fell over the room as we imagined a world without chocolate.

We were encouraged to take heart from the sheer resilience of insects: around 30 million species, first appearing 480 million years ago, and hardy enough to have survived five mass extinctions.

As the evening progressed, Anthony explored genuine drivers of decline, such as intensive agriculture and chemical use. Yet he also reminded us that media coverage loves reporting losers while overlooking winners. The same applies to climate change: although some species suffer, others benefit. Britain's warming climate, for instance, is drawing butterflies, moths and other insects northward. Calderdale is now home to species scarcely seen here a century ago. In fact, moth populations in northern England are higher than 100 years ago, thanks to these European migrants. Some attendees privately hoped The Reform Party wouldn't discover this influx.

Anthony inevitably turned to bees. To collective relief, he dispelled the persistent myth that Einstein warned humanity would perish four years after bees disappeared. The quotation actually appeared in a 1994 beekeepers' pamphlet, perhaps more marketing than science.

Pesticides have unquestionably harmed bees and other insects, yet there was comfort in learning that British beehive numbers have risen by 40% since 2015, and that only a third of our crops depend on insect pollination. A surprising 60% is done by the wind, a statistic few of us expected.

Habitat loss, warming, and light pollution remain serious pressures. But Anthony highlighted success stories too often ignored: among them the remarkable recovery of the Large Blue butterfly, with Britain now hosting Europe's largest population.

Closer to home, Calderdale has seen a threefold increase in moth numbers in specific species such as the Footman, Welsh Wave and Devon Carpet. Hebden Bridge was proudly singled out as a key refuge for Welsh and Devon moths – migrants seeking a better life in the north, much like many of us.

We left feeling that while insect decline is real in places, the story is not the unmitigated catastrophe often portrayed. Gains, sometimes spectacular, deserve equal attention. And as we continue to puzzle over the fewer splats on our windscreens, whether due to car design or insect numbers, we will recall with pleasure Dr. Anthony Arak (our very own Walter the Softy) and his thoroughly engaging talk.

With many thanks to Roger Gill for this report