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
#2If this holds up, this would seem to be a hugely important result. I'm waiting for HN's biologists to weigh in.
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#3Yes. 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 that... I kind of feel we'll find out sooner than we'd like.
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#4Presumably this is similar here in the U.S.? In the 80's and 90's the fronts of our cars would get so encrusted with mashed bugs that it would take real scrubbing to get them off. I haven't had to do that in many years.
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#5Presumably this is similar here in the U.S.? In the 80's and 90's the fronts of our cars would get so encrusted with mashed bugs that it would take real scrubbing to get them off. I haven't had to do that in many years.
I have heard this before. I’m not a climate change denier. Could it have anything to do with more aerodynamic car designs?
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#6Presumably this is similar here in the U.S.? In the 80's and 90's the fronts of our cars would get so encrusted with mashed bugs that it would take real scrubbing to get them off. I haven't had to do that in many years.
If you really want that experience again you can go drive around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota in June. I had to stop at a gas station very 30 mins because I could literally not see through my wind shield.
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#7What are the odds that honey bee colony collapse disorder isn't confined to just honey bees?
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#8I'm extremely unqualified, but is it possible that the insects just learned to avoid the specific traps used to do the measurements over time?
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#9My feeling: brace for systemic collapse.
Re: 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
#10Presumably this is similar here in the U.S.? In the 80's and 90's the fronts of our cars would get so encrusted with mashed bugs that it would take real scrubbing to get them off. I haven't had to do that in many years.
Wow, I just realized I had a similar observation. I used to do multiple 8-10 hours (one way) drives every year (2001-2014) in the north east; and bugs would pile up in the early years - not so much anymore.