There's An Insect Shortage

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Briar Tuck

Lifer
Nov 29, 2022
1,109
5,744
Oregon coast
We've definitely had a lack of pollinators on the farm for the last few years. We can't find a beekeeper, either. Plenty of mosquitos around the river, though, as always. The bloodsuckers never leave.

Just so everyone knows, there are scientists who's entire careers are devoted to counting populations of birds and insects. There have been declines in both.
Between buildings and wind farms I can understand some decline in bird populations, although one would expect an increase in insect populations as a result of birds and bats getting wiped out by the wind turbines.
 
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FurCoat

Lifer
Sep 21, 2020
10,255
96,612
North Carolina
I live 20 miles or so from you in Johnston county and the birds and insects are in abundance here.
There is a flock of geese that goes over my house every evening that numbers in as many as 60 at a time. The mocking birds are driving me crazy. I hate them personally as they drive other birds away and I'm not seeing as many blue birds now. Sparrows everywhere and robins scouring the yard for worms. Hawks, man the hawks are nesting all around me. Screeching aerial fights and they perch on my fench half a dozen at a time catching moles in my yard. Falcons catching mice in the field across the street. We have foxes, bears, coyotes, bobcats, rabbits, deer, bats and tons of turkeys. My daughter and I find new bugs everyday to talk about. Snakes, lizards and turtles galore. Once breeding season starts the roads around here are like a turtle slalom course. This area still has farms and folks around here keep farm animals and grow gardens. This all means food for wildlife. Acres upon acres of developed land with perfectly manicured lawns and HOA appoved landscaping that usually includes non-indiginous and invasive plant species does not attract wildlife and that's basically what Wake county has become. On the bright side, you don't have to wash bird poop and bugs off your car everyday.
 

FurCoat

Lifer
Sep 21, 2020
10,255
96,612
North Carolina
It's hard to get a good census of these insects, and I suspect that there are some regional differences which complicates matters. The population of honey bees and monarch butterflies have been reliably reported as in decline in recent years. OTOH stink bugs and fire ant colonies -- at least in Eastern NC are thriving. Hard to tell what's going on with murder hornets as reporting seems to border on hysteria. At any rate the hypothesis seems believable to me.

BTW anecdotal is not a synonym for wrong or unbelievable, it means it doesn't have the rigor of science behind it.
I hate fire ants. I'm at war with those bastards.
 

BarrelProof

Lifer
Mar 29, 2020
2,701
10,601
39
The Last Frontier
Between buildings and wind farms I can understand some decline in bird populations, although one would expect an increase in insect populations as a result of birds and bats getting wiped out by the wind turbines.

House cats have a devastating impact on passerines. Pesticides and monoculture can keep pollinator populations in check in spite of a downward trend in predator populations.

But it’s all hokey, anyways - I saw a Chickadee the other day, so bird populations are thriving.
 
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Briar Tuck

Lifer
Nov 29, 2022
1,109
5,744
Oregon coast
House cats have a devastating impact on passerines. Pesticides and monoculture can keep pollinator populations in check in spite of a downward trend in predator populations.

But it’s all hokey, anyways - I saw a Chickadee the other day, so bird populations are thriving.
Good point, I forgot about the cats. Introduced species take a huge toll. Most of Guam's native bird species are extinct now because of brown tree snakes that were introduced to the island during WWII.
 

BarrelProof

Lifer
Mar 29, 2020
2,701
10,601
39
The Last Frontier
Even though it's been in the eighties here also, I haven't observed to many insects out and about yet. I have these two sparrows (male & female) that have been following me around all winter. I've been feeding them crushed up cat food and crushed up almonds. They're starting to get closer to me in proximity, pretty soon they'll be shitting on my head and shoulders. View attachment 207981

@Briar Tuck

And these cause their own set of problems domestically.
 
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ADKPiper

Part of the Furniture Now
Dec 13, 2020
587
1,437
Adirondack Mountains
There is no shortage in black flies around here. Mostly in May and June. There are old tales of explorers putting a bullet in their head because of them. They will eat you alive in the woods during those months.

 
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Zero

Lifer
Apr 9, 2021
1,746
13,257
There is no shortage in black flies around here. Mostly in May and June. There are old tales of explorers putting a bullet in their head because of them. They will eat you alive in the woods during those months.

Spouses can have the same effect.
 

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
4,960
14,358
Humansville Missouri
I was curious about the insect shortage, so I looked it up. It’s hard to say, if there is one. I hope there is, because I prefer civilization to nature.


The worst pest in American history on the American people was the Rocky Mountain Locust.

The American people won.


Maybe we could do the same to the tics, chiggers and mosquitoes in the Ozarks.:)