[Misc] Where have all the insects gone?

The Antikythera Mechanism · May 27, 2021

I can remember when, back in the 80’s, driving on a long journey, dual carriageway or motorway, that my windscreen would be covered in splattered bugs and a trip to Halfords for insect remover would be a necessity. Nowadays nothing and I think this is worrying.

1066familyman · May 27, 2021

Two sides to this I think.

Yes, insects are in decline.

The reason you don't see as many splattered on your windscreen though is due to the more 'aero' design of modern cars. Apparently.

Swansman · May 27, 2021

They died to death.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Your phones killed them.

https://phys.org/news/2020-09-mobile-insects-german.html

Harry Wilson's tackle · May 27, 2021

1066familyman said:
Two sides to this I think.

Yes, insects are in decline.

The reason you don't see as many splattered on your windscreen though is due to the more 'aero' design of modern cars. Apparently.

Very good point. I suspect industrial use of DDT and agent orange are also in decline so a genuine reduction in insects is unlikely. Nothinh insecty has splatted my windscreen for years.

What I'd like to know, though, in Faversham, where have all the bats gone? This time of year at dusk the sky over my garden would be thick with them. Now, nothing. Not even a Bruce Wayne.

WATFORD zero · May 27, 2021

Mrs Wz has gone away for the weekend and left me with a fly problem. Hundreds of the little f***ers on the Basil and Parsley on the kitchen windowsill and even a big Japanese money plant at the other end of the kitchen has them.

Suggestions ?

And please don't let me down NSC

PS I have two bat boxes under the eaves and nothing in 5 bloody years !

JC Footy Genius · May 27, 2021

Obviously, they are in hiding, waiting for you to wash your car and are in cahoots with the f****** pigeons.

Boroseagull · May 27, 2021

Insects are scarce in the UK this spring and the main reason being the cold spell instead of the 'usual' spring weather. Plants late to flower, no pollen for insects, no insects for the birds to feed young so fledglings way down in number this year.

Thunder Bolt · May 27, 2021

Springwatch has said Spring is two weeks late this year because the temperature has been lower. It will be warmer this weekend so the hibernating insects will be zooming around soon.

beorhthelm · May 27, 2021

i like the aerodynamics idea, but more likely its simply the cold weather. last time i wash the car (last autumn) there were plenty across the front bumper and grill.

Swansman · May 27, 2021

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Very good point. I suspect industrial use of DDT and agent orange are also in decline so a genuine reduction in insects is unlikely. Nothinh insecty has splatted my windscreen for years.

What I'd like to know, though, in Faversham, where have all the bats gone? This time of year at dusk the sky over my garden would be thick with them. Now, nothing. Not even a Bruce Wayne.

Is it though?

Quite a few seem to disagree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations

Seasidesage · May 27, 2021

Probably drowned in the last month...

Harry Wilson's tackle · May 27, 2021

Swansman said:
Is it though?

Quite a few seem to disagree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations

"The declines are far from uniform. In some localities, there have been reports of increases in overall insect population, and some types of insects appear to be increasing in abundance across the world."

It's just the way of things :shrug:

The explanation for loss of car windscreen insect splatter is surely aerodynamics/car design.

Faversham is awash with bees, ants, mozzies and other weird things.

Stand by for NSC's famous 'flying ant day' thread coming to an internet in yoir area, soon :wink:

Would still like to know who took our bats, though

GT49er · May 27, 2021

Loss of habitat I guess - same as for many species of birds (loss of habitat for them, plus reduced numbers of insects available to eat) We're starting to get the idea of conservation now - though not on a micro scale I'm afraid. How many gardens are being covered by decking and/or paved - sometimes for parking the ever increasing number of cars, often just to save the 'bother' of mowing and trimming?
My border on one side, for instance, is a big old privet hedge, at least 40 or 50 years old, full of assorted bugs and insects and the odd bird's nest - and I'm being continuously harangued by my neighbour to rip it out and pit up a nice sterile fence so that his garden space is 6 inches or a foot wider (depending how much and how often he trims it.) Mental - some people just don't get the connection between conservation (which somebody else should do, and they're absolutely in favour of it) and their own back gardens.

dazzer6666 · May 27, 2021

WATFORD zero said:
Mrs Wz has gone away for the weekend and left me with a fly problem. Hundreds of the little f***ers on the Basil and Parsley on the kitchen windowsill and even a big Japanese money plant at the other end of the kitchen has them.

Suggestions ?

And please don't let me down NSC

PS I have two bat boxes under the eaves and nothing in 5 bloody years !

Got one of these last summer.........it’s brilliant, especially when people don’t know it’s there and something flies in

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BACKTURE-M...r&qid=1622145019&sprefix=Fly+,aps,169&sr=8-55

Raleigh Chopper · May 27, 2021

Where have all the insects gone?
Ppf is still around somewhere.

BrickTamland · May 27, 2021

Prefer the Kasabian version

spongy · May 27, 2021

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Very good point. I suspect industrial use of DDT and agent orange are also in decline so a genuine reduction in insects is unlikely. Nothinh insecty has splatted my windscreen for years.

What I'd like to know, though, in Faversham, where have all the bats gone? This time of year at dusk the sky over my garden would be thick with them. Now, nothing. Not even a Bruce Wayne.

We have plenty here in BUG. Saw them out for the first time this year a couple of weeks ago.

There is 2 big oak trees at the end of our garden in someone else's property and the bats whizz between them all night picking up insects that stray too far from the foliage. They should be out very soon making the wife nervous :lolol:

Cowfold Seagull · May 27, 2021

Thunder Bolt said:
Springwatch has said Spring is two weeks late this year because the temperature has been lower. It will be warmer this weekend so the hibernating insects will be zooming around soon.

Indeed, they will be back before you know it.

giveusfalmerplease · May 27, 2021

well if you look up mice infestation in australia, nature is clearly compensating.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...se-plague-map-mice-new-south-wales-sydney-evg

one report i read yesterday suggested one farmer said he reconned there were ONE MILLION on his 10 acre land :yikes

Weststander · May 27, 2021

This year is unique with a very cold April and May. May average temp’s 4.3C below May 2020, also with rain, wind and a lack of sun.

Normally we’d be plagued with flies by now. A lack of flying insects, leaving a dearth of food for bats and some birds.

I’m sure they’ll arrive soon with this spell of sustained sunny weather.

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[Misc] Where have all the insects gone?

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