Research analysis on insect as environmental pollution indicator using bibliometric progress (1973–2024) and exploring its future prospects

Insects are increasingly recognized as sensitive bioindicators of environmental pollution due to their ecological diversity and responsiveness to contaminants. This study aims to systematically analyze the evolution of research on insects as indicators of air, water, and soil pollution from 1973 to 2024, identify major trends, and highlight future research directions. A bibliometric approach was employed using articles retrieved from the Scopus database, with statistical and network analyses performed using VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Biblioshiny in R. Results reveal that honeybees (Hymenoptera) are frequently used to monitor airborne heavy metals, aquatic insects such as mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and dragonflies (Odonata) assess water quality, and dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) track soil contamination. Emerging pollutants, including microplastics, are gaining attention, with advanced techniques such as bioaccumulation studies and molecular biomarkers enhancing insect-based monitoring. Thematic analysis highlights integration of entomology with environmental science, toxicology, remote sensing, and citizen science. Despite progress, challenges remain, including lack of standardized methodologies, taxonomic and geographic biases, and limited understanding of long-term pollutant effects. This study concludes that multidisciplinary approaches, including genomic methods, ecological modeling, and exploration of underutilized insect taxa, are essential to advance insect-based biomonitoring and support sustainable environmental management.