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75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

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Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#71

Post by thearn4 »

dawnerd wrote: post #25
avip wrote: post #3

Yes. This is a case of hard data confirming what we already know. As in - few types of butterflies I used to like, and see yearly as a kid - are gone. I see them now once in 5 years, if lucky. I bring my kids to look because it's a first time for them. On the other hand, some types of beetles, ants, flies, mosquitoes, even wasps - are just new. They were not here 20-30 years ago. Now, what are the consequences of all…

I’m seeing a ton of wasps this year too. Also seems like there’s way more spiders in recent years.

Same in rural Ohio, tons of both this year

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#72

Post by ioquatix »

GlenTheMachine wrote: post #35
avip wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't jump into blaming the climate. We've shifted many parts of a very complex system in the last 50+ years. I'd put monoculture and pesticides higher on my list of suspects.

As an anecdotal data point, I'm trying to establish a robust, poly-culture, mostly chemical-free agricultural system on my hobby farm. We do seem to get more flying insects on my place than our neighbors, all of whom have grass lawns. Critters of all kinds, in fact - lots of frogs and toads as well, and box turtles. Obviously I haven't done a scientific study, but we see butterflies, lighting bugs, and so on; not as…

I think it's up to city planners to include more green belts. Better for the environment, better for water drainage, better for humans, it's really win win win.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#73

Post by georgieup »

frakr wrote: post #45
GlenTheMachine wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That has a simple explanation, though. Monarch caterpillars can only survive on milkweed, and we've decimated the amount of milkweed around because we see it as, well, a weed.

You can help out with this by harvesting seeds and planting them all over!

Good way of earning yourself some enemies.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#75

Post by carbonmachine »

Being an earth dwelling human, this seems pretty bad. Aside from buying ammo or survival rations, what's something proactive that I can do? Is there an organization that is trying to rid the world of pesticides (assuming that's the cause)? If I opt to call my representatives, what am I calling in support of/against?

Over the last year, reading the news had made me more passive and worried. I want to dedicate a slice of time to doing something to solve the problem, but I'm not certain if there's anything pragmatic to be done against big areas of environmental concern like this, global warming, ocean acidity, and etc.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#76

Post by sixothree »

nnfy wrote: post #63
knodi wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This kind of the same thing I'm seeing with firefly in Michigan. In the summer time when I first moved to MI over 30 years ago I use to see them everywhere in large amounts. This year they're back but last 3 years I didn't see them at all. As long as there are climate change deniers a.k.a Trump supports we're all in a lot of trouble, even humans.

Some of the people you go out of your way to slander as both trump supporters and climate change deniers exist as they do because of people like you, who immediately take any adverse global trend, blame it on climate change with what amounts to shakey, correlative evidence, and then shame anyone who dares glance over with a skeptical eye. We are dumping all kinds of chemicals into the environment - pesticides, plasti…

I hate to admit it but whatever the solution to this problem will be, Trump supporters will almost certainly fight against it.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#77

Post by wolco »

crispinb wrote: post #43

Results like this are some confirmation of what everyone not entirely swaddled in the virtual worlds of city and business is already entirely aware of: that our living planet is dying. All the people I know who have lived in rural areas for decades (in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and SE. Asia) are in no doubt that their local ecologies are collapsing, and that the collapse is accelerating. I'm not sure…

In other parts of the world like Canada things are becoming alive with the changes. The earth is a living ecosystem.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#78

Post by colordrops »

crispinb wrote: post #43

Results like this are some confirmation of what everyone not entirely swaddled in the virtual worlds of city and business is already entirely aware of: that our living planet is dying. All the people I know who have lived in rural areas for decades (in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and SE. Asia) are in no doubt that their local ecologies are collapsing, and that the collapse is accelerating. I'm not sure…

I'm starting to think that as well. As a father it hits me much harder, and I think I'm at stage four of the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The human race may just not be special and will be erased, sooner rather than later.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#79

Post by winslow »

frakr wrote: post #45
GlenTheMachine wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That has a simple explanation, though. Monarch caterpillars can only survive on milkweed, and we've decimated the amount of milkweed around because we see it as, well, a weed.

You can help out with this by harvesting seeds and planting them all over!

I've been growing milkweed at my parents house and we saw a around 20 caterpillars this year! Unfortunately, ~1/2 of them didn't make it but we at least start seeing Monarchs again. Everyone should be planting better garden plants that can compared to the bland green bushes and grass that never blooms.

Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

#80

Post by sogen »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #53
MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is making the headlines in Germany right now: http://www.zeit.de/wissen/umwelt/2017-10/insektensterben-flu... http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/insekten-in-deutsch... http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/insektensterben-dramatisch... Der Spiegel discusses issues in the methodology of the data collection. The intervals over the years weren't uniform, data was collected by volunteers/hobbyists and they did not…

The massive use of neonicotinoides would not surprise me given the research of its impact on bee colony collapse.

Maybe a side effect of less bees pollination?
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