Insect Decline

[Bowsnbucks]

Just a couple days ago, a 20-year university study (don't remember which university) from 2004 to 2024 published its findings. They did insect studies / counts in pristine, undeveloped, wild meadows in Colorado. Insect numbers and species were down 76% in those 20 years!! Not good news for pollination. The studies were conducted in places where human intervention / activity / development would not play a part.

 

[Westwind]

Im really interested in this whole insect thing from a habitat point of view. I started to notice it only because of posters here on H-T.

My plantings have been a variety of soil builder and legumes intensive mixes. One of my plots is 50 yards from my back deck where I spend some time in the evening. That plot had some gamebird mix and some additional flowering species mixed in.

The last two years I have experienced what I think is less mosquitos gnats and biting flies. One very dry summer and one wet summer. I recently tore through that plot and planted my fall mix. As soon as that plot was gone, I have a few mosquitos. Not scientific. Not fact, just what I think.

My wife and I walk in the evening. Our driveway is 900’ long and has warm season grasses on both sides. The din of insects on both sides is really noticeable. Seems like a good thing.

I am in a bullseye for a lot of people getting Lyme. Neither my wife or I have had a tick on us this summer. We usually catch them before they bite when we have got them in the past. I have also engaged in thinning squirrels coons and mice around the house so maybe that makes a difference.

The idea that insects are less prevalent in the middle of nowhere in Colorado does sound like bad news. I know that planting a mix of food plod species, some flowering is something I will absolutely continue to do based on my observations the last couple years.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

How big of an area? What were the collection methods? Was there an increase in spiders, bats, birds, reptiles?

 

[Westwind]

Exactly. Without studying, how do we know.

And in my case, bats have been way down due to some fungus. Just starting to see them again. And we had the cicada explosion last year and quite a few this year. In my case we no longer have a dog. He was a lab that liked to get in the tall stuff and hunt so I’m sure he was bringing ticks to the house. Lots and lots of factors.

I have seen more praying mantis than ever and also seem to have those hummingbird moths more than I remember but that might just be because I’m looking for them.

No way to know for sure what is going on.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

Agreed, I have seen more praying mantis (including lots of babies) this year more than all previous years combined! Less spotted lantern flies

 

[Turkey Creek]

I wonder, just speculation, that maybe areas with high densities of Ag crops have less beneficial insects that maybe take longer to go from an egg to a mature adult than say a mosquito does. Almost zero mosquitos around on the 2 parcels of ground I am routinely on, but no major Ag crops around either. Therefore no need to spray insecticides typically. Up in Nebraska at our farm it is all Ag and the mosquitos were bad last time I was there. Maybe the mosquitos bounce back really fast compared to their predaotory insects after a spray application?