Insects on windscreen

[yellow belly]

I keep reading about people who associate the reduced need to clean their windscreen with less insects in the farmed envirionment
My Land Rover has plenty on it when I can drive fast enough 50 mph or more
Is this because it is not the best aero dinamicly compared with the modern last 20 years wind tunnel designed cars and trucks
Simply the aerodynamic shape allows the insects to escape over the top of the car

 

[Gong Farmer]

Simply the aerodynamic shape allows the insects to escape over the top of the car

This. My Nissan Note windscreen angle is a little different to that of our old Morris Minor.

 

[Fallowfield]

'Is this because it is not the best aero dinamicly compared with the modern last 20 years wind tunnel designed cars and trucks'

##

No. It's because there are fewer insects.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/05/where-have-all-insects-gone

 

[wanton dwarf]

A few weeks ago whilst driving home it was like rain on the windscreen.

Took a few seconds to realise that it wasn't raining but thousands of large insects were hitting the screen.

It comes and goes according to weather conditions but definately still large numbers around .. worst I saw ever was Orange Wheat Blossom Midges in the wheat a few years back ... 10s of thousands just on one field.

 

[Jon]

Unfortunately, a breeding couple of horseflies must have survived last year, and they have made up for it.
Little sods.

 

[7610 super q]

There's Klingons on the starboard bow.......

Scrape um off Jim.

 

[Tarw Coch]

'Is this because it is not the best aero dinamicly compared with the modern last 20 years wind tunnel designed cars and trucks'

##

No. It's because there are fewer insects.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/05/where-have-all-insects-gone

I’m with the OP, still plenty on the Land Rover windscreen.

 

[Kidds]

A few weeks ago whilst driving home it was like rain on the windscreen.

Took a few seconds to realise that it wasn't raining but thousands of large insects were hitting the screen.

It comes and goes according to weather conditions but definately still large numbers around .. worst I saw ever was Orange Wheat Blossom Midges in the wheat a few years back ... 10s of thousands just on one field.

You were driving through a swarm of bees.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Maybe there seems less bugs because there are more cars so less bugs per car to go round?

Or maybe, after 100 years of motoring, the bugs have started to get wise and avoid cars. Perhaps it’s evolution and the most savvy windscreen-avoiding bugs are surviving!

 

[Ffermer Bach]

There is also an issue, with the British peoples attitude to the country, they all expect it to be manicured like a neat lawn, cut and trimmed, with no wild areas, and nature is wild and unkempt, and not just the public who have this idea, farmers too, hence hedges all trimmed and "ship shape", so we have less nature in the uk than most countries. I suppose the biggest wild life areas now are verges, and they are trimmed all the time (for health and safety!), and I believe they are very nitrogen rich now from the roads, or full of salt or both, so not a natural ecosystem either.

 

[Paddington]

Started humming Dire Straits-
Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're a fool in love...

 

[Brisel]

Maybe we've had weather patterns that haven't suited certain bugs. Or maybe it's easier to blame farmers for the decline...

 

[Clive]

It’s speed related - I have tested this today on German autobahn

Sub 100mph very few bug splats - over 100 gets lots though

I think there must be a speed at which the airflow carries them over the car

Different cars have different “splat thresholds” as well it seems depending on how areo dynamic they are

 

[Brisel]

What's the maximum speed for max splatter Clive?

Very dedicated research for this thread

 

[upnortheast]

Jeremy Vine wasted 30 minutes on this.last year
All caused by "modern farming methods"
This year our vans are coming back plastered with dead insects

 

[yellow belly]

30 years ago only sports cars were aero dinamic now all cars are

30 years ago the iscecticides we used killed every thing
Now they do not work so we do not use any insecticide
After a few years the beneficial reduce the epidemics resistant varieties and later drilling helps with others

 

[Paddington]

My old boss reckoned that above 130mph in his XJS he didn't need wipers if it was raining, I never asked him about insects though.

 

[Cowcalf]

reckon there is less bugs due to farm practises and intensification.More likely too many raptors !

 

[puppet]

Plenty bugs around. Just check the teeth of a happy motorcyclist

 

[the orra loon]

My mates wife was telling me it helps if you toot your horn as the fleas get out of the way........... she had consumed a few gins but she was adamant!!!