Are insects facing extinction?

[@jtho8019]

My father who was an avid naturalist and got me interested in insects thought that radio waves interfered with insects ability to locate each other and thus reproduce. This appeared to be borne out by our observations at that time in the late 50s and throughout the 60s in our travels to rural areas we observed larger populations of insects in areas that were under served with radio and TV.....much larger.He said that when he was a child and there was much less radio and TV there were many more insects. Fast forward to today. I live in an area that up until a few years ago had few radio and tv stations and no cell phone coverage. Insects were abundant... Swarms around our porch lights and up against windows that were lit up.In the last 5 years we have gotten decent cell phone coverage and all of a sudden the insects have disappeared. No swarms, no butterflys in our gardens , no insects plastered against the windshieed....not even a solitary japanese beetle this year. By my calculations the population of insects in our area is down by 90%+ in just the last 5 years. I dont believe this is coincidence. This holds true across our local preserves, state and national forests where pesticides are not ever used.

[@1withtheflow102]

Downright alarming. No insects, no us. Time is of the essence.

[@puravidadew7031]

The most unfortunate thing of all is that human beings do not change unless forced to change. So by the time we are forced to change it will be too goddamn late. As is always the case. And in the end, would losing humanity from this planet really be that bad of a thing? I think the earth would say no.

[@theworthysoul]

The Earth would rejoice without humans. Our presence is considered to be an extinction event in itself as we’ve made so many animals and plants extinct and disrupted many previously stable ecosystems. The creatures we call ‘pests’ were native to the places we stole from them and plonked our buildings on.

[@EricaFiore]

Don't see insect now six years later from when this was posted.

[@paulrichards2365]

I have been watching the deteriating condition of insects over the years. And I have a question. Maybe it's my imagination, but I really think there are much LESS birds in Sydney where I live. In the morning up till fairly recently, the place was noisy with birds. Latelly not so much. I know for a fact that krill and other sea life that sea gulls eat are getting less. Sea gulls that travel from Alaska to Antartica have been washing up on the Australian East coast because they are starved. This was in the news YESTERDAY. We used to get Cicardas regularly in Sydney, but none for a while. But I'm wondering about the birds. It's only recently I have noticed it. The sky was full of birds, now hardly any, and the mornings are very quiet. Are they really dying of, or is it just my imagination for around Sydney? Its evening now and usually, the place was noisy with birds going to roost. But only a few can be heard.

[@TheLordSheogorath]

You are not wrong. 2019 was the last year I have seen a pair of swallows above my window. There have been just a few pairs that year. Since 2020 nothing. Not a single one. The sky used to be full of them in the 90's. It's May 2022 now, we are well into spring, not a single mosquito in sight. I can't remember the last time I have seen the ordinary white cabbage butterfly here. Even flies are nowhere to be seen.

[@ggmahomed]

in the 80's i observed that the birds were adapting and eating of the dead insects from headlamps and grill of parked cars now this is also not an option hence we have to participate to restore the balance

[@garyrucker9019]

Why is nobody talking about UV-C now reaching the earths surface and how that effects the bugs or the bug eggs? Before anyone disregards it. Look it up.

[@shanefistell8890]

Hi, Minnesota school children found mutation in tadpoles. Tadpole eggs rotate following the position of the sun. Evidence was found that UV-C reaching the earth's surface is contributing to tadpole mutations! Pesticide and herbicide runoff has contributed as well.

[@simonhhh100]

@@shanefistell8890 Agreed...a perfect storm of dangerous inputs causing insect apocalypse ...no doubt about it

[@davidbeddoe6670]

still plenty of mosquitoes, bedbugs, mexican bedbugs, roaches, gnats and deerflies where I live...

[@ocdplaylistmaker7032]

Another fixable way to help insect populations is to place native landscaping plants certified by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. See www.wildflower.org/plants-main for plants to plant in your local area.

[@barbarakaufman5384]

they are beating around the bush, you cannot manage nature, let nature do what it does best

[@Confucius_76]

Of course it's insecticides that are doing this! It's in the freakin name! It literally means insect killer!

[@minnowpd]

agree. We banned aerial spraying for black flies here in the Adirondacks 50 years ago. insect numbers are down however.

[@jonathanoxlade4252]

Well more vegans are saying well crop deaths are meaningless lol most of our bug life is gone oh where's that song I am only human after all vegans need to stop blaming us when the crop required to feed everything is also killing bugs and rare insects so stop pointing your green fingers at us

[@barrymybiscetboi1988]

...

[@davidbeddoe6670]

Is this like, a deleted scene from Children Of Men?

[@freddyflintstoned913]

I hope the skeeters go first.

[@corneliusgreyhound]

mosquitos wont go first. it'll be butterflies moths bees etc. Bugs that need more finely tuned conditions. And if you hope insects go, then better start stocking up on your tins because we will all starve to death

[@chaossynergy9768]

@@corneliusgreyhound After he stocks on food cans, sooner or later other hungry rioters will stab him to get to those cans. Would we even want to live in a world like that? And we aren't talking fallout style here, we are talking about literal billions of angry rioters. Let it never get to that.

[@hairypiepoo8632]

I need a poo