Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
21–30 of 378 posts
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#22I’ve noticed the same with snails. When I was a child in the 90s, the sidewalks were full of snails, and during a 10 minute stroll, I’d often find tens of small snails.
Today I find 1 or 2 snails after rainfall, if at all.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#23Aerodynamics, cars are far more aerodynamic now days.
The article discusses this at length, concluding that it is not a major factor.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#24To everyone replying “aerodynamics”, I’ve had the same car for about 9 years now and the drive along the 5 from Bay Area to LA feels like there’s fewer bugs on my windshield (granted not recorded diligently for scientific purposes but whereas before I’d need to scrub the windshield at least once halfway these days I can drive all the way and still don’t need a wash at the end) Same goes for the argument that bugs hav…
Also, the "bugs evolve away" would need evolutionary pressure being involved. But the explanation I got was the available biomass for bugs is such that any chunk of bugs killed on the road was easily filled by other bugs eating their lunch and procreating.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#25I guess whatever reason it is local, because last summer drove from Lisbon to Berlin and this summer drove from Berlin to Milan and every time I stopped at a gas station I had to clean the car because boy did it have A LOT of dead bugs.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, the modern car windshields have a much flatter angle than old cars but it's not as news worthy. :-)
Implies a VW Bus gets the most bugs? Bart and Sideshow Bob got a lot of bugs on the Wright Brothers plane [0] . [0] https://youtu.be/RD77nyoEyug?t=112
Having had a VW bus all my life I can confirm they do get a lot of bugs, but far fewer these days. In the 80s my father used to try all manner of cleaning products to try and remove them but it's not such an issue any more.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#27I’ve noticed the same with snails. When I was a child in the 90s, the sidewalks were full of snails, and during a 10 minute stroll, I’d often find tens of small snails. Today I find 1 or 2 snails after rainfall, if at all.
Do you still live in the same place you grew up?
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#28To everyone replying “aerodynamics”, I’ve had the same car for about 9 years now and the drive along the 5 from Bay Area to LA feels like there’s fewer bugs on my windshield (granted not recorded diligently for scientific purposes but whereas before I’d need to scrub the windshield at least once halfway these days I can drive all the way and still don’t need a wash at the end) Same goes for the argument that bugs hav…
Also, the "bugs evolve away" would need evolutionary pressure being involved. But the explanation I got was the available biomass for bugs is such that any chunk of bugs killed on the road was easily filled by other bugs eating their lunch and procreating.
> Also, the "bugs evolve away" would need evolutionary pressure being involved
I do not claim that evolution is the reason for the reduction in dead bugs, but if "go near road" has a increased risk of death due to automobiles, there absolutely is selective pressure to not "go near road". Bugs that get killed by cars don't procreate (again) after all.
Re: Why are there so few dead bugs on windshields these days?
#29I’ve noticed the same with snails. When I was a child in the 90s, the sidewalks were full of snails, and during a 10 minute stroll, I’d often find tens of small snails. Today I find 1 or 2 snails after rainfall, if at all.
With snails I suspect its more to do with how a child behaves and an adult.
I collect snails from my garden to eat and numbers are fairly similar despite my occasionally trying to control them with pellets some years.
Similarly with the original article I only got half way down but clearly it's more to do with cars than insect numbers.