Lack of Insects again....

[steveR]

It is very noticeable this Summer that the insect populations are down. I hardly see a moth in the grassland for the terriers to chase, and insects coming into the house in the evening when the window gets left open are actually rare....

Another knock on from the wet winter? Or something else... Next to no insecticides being used on the stock,similar on cropping.

 

[teslacoils]

Normally the garden is buzzing with ground nesting solitary bees. None this year. Very sad. Can only blame the awful weather.

Must admit there are crane flies all over tonight. Plenty of St Marks flies earlier in the season.

Yesterday and today seems to be flying ant day.

 

[Kidds]

Seem plenty here. Drove down to Somerset and back a few weeks back and car was covered when I returned plus a bat wedged into the grille for good measure.
Have seen some caterpillars I have never seen before and although there are moths about I admit not seeing any big ones yet. I think it is a little early anyway, it has only been warm a week or so.
Horseflies are increasing.
Saw lots of tiny bees earlier on in the year that I hadn't noticed before.

 

[Badshot]

No warm weather equals no insects.

 

[MrNoo]

Ive noticed this too, butterflies, hardly seen any at all, plenty of cinnabar moths, Buddleias are just coming into full flower and not seen a butterfly on any of them. Plenty of bees on the Lupins in the garden though which has been nice to see. Got a field of Crimson Clover in front of the house that's just coming into full flower, hardly a butterfly to be seen

 

[Paddington]

Plenty of flies here, house flies, midges, fruit flies and biting flies, but not many moths, butterflies or crane flies.
Just had a fly land on me as I'm typing this.

 

[egbert]

It is very noticeable this Summer that the insect populations are down. I hardly see a moth in the grassland for the terriers to chase, and insects coming into the house in the evening when the window gets left open are actually rare....

Another knock on from the wet winter? Or something else... Next to no insecticides being used on the stock,similar on cropping.

It's a topsy year.
Bees are in a bad way, as there's seemingly been very little nectar in the flowers.
Lots still being fed. (a lot like coos, only the AI is fiddlier)

 

[Gong Farmer]

Garden tiger moths still swarming here in the garden like every year, but everything else is lower numbers, even house flies.

 

[som farmer]

flies seem plentiful.
Would have thought wet/humid, would mean sheep/maggots, pals are saying no. Friend sheared monday, 300 ewes, and his neighbours 250, 1 struck.

flies are not bothering the cattle yet, but the advice is to start fly control early .......................

but agree, not many butterflies about, or other insects, got some flying ants about.

 

[serf]

Regardless of the cause if there is seen to be a drop on insect numbers we all know who'll get the blame ...

 

[Sam Partridge]

hundreds of moths while mowing last night, loads of crane flys. Not seen any horse flies yet, but usually got bitten when we used to irrigate for potatoes as they hang around the water

 

[steveR]

Ive noticed this too, butterflies, hardly seen any at all, plenty of cinnabar moths, Buddleias are just coming into full flower and not seen a butterfly on any of them. Plenty of bees on the Lupins in the garden though which has been nice to see. Got a field of Crimson Clover in front of the house that's just coming into full flower, hardly a butterfly to be seen

I have got Phacelia in flower here and there, but no happy buzzing when you bend your head into the canopy, as normally can be heard....

 

[Kiwi Pete]

They must have all flown south for the winter and kept going. Plenty of life here

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Regardless of the cause if there is seen to be a drop on insect numbers we all know who'll get the blame ...

Everyone wants a simple answer though don't they. Better than the right answer is a simple one, even if it's dead wrong

 

[Bogweevil]

It is National Insect Week.

Parliamentary report publishe din March: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmsctech/326/report.html#heading-0

Insect decline and UK food security

This is a House of Commons Committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond.

1 Introduction
1. It has already been established by other Parliamentary Committees that insects are vital for food security but are also experiencing population declines.1 Insects provide vital ‘goods and services’ for wildlife, food production and human health. Their roles include pollination, pest and weed regulation, decomposition, nutrient cycling, and provision of food for wildlife.2 Insects can also be used as key indicators for monitoring ecosystems. On the other hand, some insects are considered agricultural pests and transmit diseases between people as well as crops or livestock.

2. It is difficult to assess the quantitative value of insects’ role within ecosystems, but evidence submitted to this Inquiry said that internationally, the economic value of pollinators has been estimated as being worth over £134 billion to agricultural markets3 and around £500 million in the UK.4 Natural pest control of widespread aphid pests (by ground beetles and parasitoid wasps) has been estimated as being worth up to £2.3 million per year to South East England wheat fields.5

3. Over recent years, many international studies, focusing on different insect groups have indicated that there has been a decline in insect abundance, diversity, distribution and biomass.6 However, the severity of these negative trends varies and may be over- or underestimated. For example, a well-reported 2019 global review,7 which predicted catastrophic declines in populations, has been criticised by many academics, including witnesses to this Inquiry, due to alleged flaws in its methodology.8 Uncertainties remain regarding specific insect decline figures and there are variations in trends between insect groups.9 However, based on the oral and written evidence submitted to this Inquiry it was clear that, in broad terms, insects can be said to be in decline in the United Kingdom.

 

[ladycrofter]

It's a topsy year.
Bees are in a bad way, as there's seemingly been very little nectar in the flowers.
Lots still being fed. (a lot like coos, only the AI is fiddlier)

Yes that's it, the weather has been very bad during breeding and feeding season for insects. We beekeepers notice it obviously. The "June Gap" happens every year anyway. Although we see flowers in June, they aren't particularly nutrient or nectar rich and the bees and other nesting insects have to rely on what they've stored up so far. We never take spring honey off for this reason. (BTW commercial honeybee queens ARE often AI'd, don't ask me how!!)

Their stores will be more depleted this year because of the warmer winter, causing them to be more active and use more food during that time. Then, going into spring, it was pissing down when everything was flowering so they've had no chance to build back up. And for insects hatching in the spring, they were just hammered by the cold wet weather.
It's surprising that crop yields don't appear to be down for fruit, we'll see. But saw this wee guy the other day, internet says Ruby Tiger

 

[Wood field]

Plenty of winged insects here as well as wife’s bees
Rose bushes and trees are literally buzzing with bumblebees not as many butterflies to be seen though

 

[Pan mixer]

We have only had a week of nice weather so far, flies are building up everywhere, moths and mozzies too.

Late spring

 

[4R Man]

Plenty of insects with us.
Is insect life also related to its food sources - later warm weather this year, but also less livestock in the UK, so less muck?

 

[Cowpoke82]

hundreds of moths while mowing last night, loads of crane flys. Not seen any horse flies yet, but usually got bitten when we used to irrigate for potatoes as they hang around the water

Lucky you , I’ve spent two days topping with no air con an the cabs been full of the barstewards