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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,144
Threads: 82,318
Posts: 853,068
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, docotton | |  | | 
13-06-2008, 10:41 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lincoln
Posts: 457
| | | Scarcity of insects?
I don,t know if any of you agree with me but do you feel there is a shortage of insects this year? The Pyracantha (Firethorn) is in full bloom here in Lincoln now
and last year it was covered in various species. This year I have seen good numbers of bumble bees though a little late, few honey bees and hover flies and hardly any aphids or caterpillars. Plenty of lily beetles though  Butterflies are few and far between.
The local birds though have all raised fine broods and some are still raising further broods so they seem satisfied.
Colin |
13-06-2008, 11:19 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,029
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
I went stalking with a macro lens in my garden a couple of nights ago. Saw one wasp (who wouldn't settle for a photo) and one speckled bush-cricket nymph - that was it! And no spiders either. I'm hoping they're just late and everything will start buzzing in the next few weeks.
Dave P.
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13-06-2008, 11:33 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Lancashire
Posts: 1,610
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
I think its due to the wet weather we had last year, if its too cold or wet then most insects dont fly ... |
14-06-2008, 07:07 AM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 9,725
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
The only beneficiaries of the wet start to this summer seems to be the gnats and midges. My arms will bare witness to that.....but then I suppose the predators of the blighters will be quite satisfied too!
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14-06-2008, 07:45 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,582
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
Hmmmm.
Interesting question.
Bit like was Spring early or late this year etc... but more scientific.
In my opinion, in my neck of the woods anyhoo, there does seem to be less insects around than I would normally expect for the time of year, possibly? At least in a few examples?
To compare with last year might be a mistake (what with the gloriously hot sunny month we had in April, followed by a miserable 3 months of rain and wind during the "summer").
For what its worth though - just this year...
BUTTERFLIES - Much less than I expect for this time of year. Much, much less. I am really having to HUNT for them this year -haven't had to do that in donkeys years?!
BEES/ WASPS - Contrary to over-egged hysteria, about the same as I would normally expect - plenty of bees and wasps of all sizes in our cruddy little garden in Reading.
MOTHS - Worse than last year in Spring - last year we were tripping over Scarlet Tigers in May - this year we still have a good number, but had to wait another four weeks for them, and they are nowhere near as abundant as they were last year. Picking up nicely now though - MUST be better than last year
FLIES etc... - loads enjoying the cool(ish) wet(tish) start to this summer, well, gnats and midges and craneflies anyhoo.
I'm sure the others will pick up when the temperatures do...
LADYBIRDS - Less than last year - I'm sure they'll pick up though, as this summer has started with an apology, but cannot be as bad as last year.
BUGS/SHIELDBUGS etc... - Much much less than last year. Like the scarlet tiger moths, I was beating them off with a stick last year - this year I'm having to go and look for them. They are there, when you look, but in fewer numbers than 2007 in my opinion.
BEETLES - Pretty constant and expected numbers I think - plenty of Click beetles and Ground Beetles around.
COCKCHAFERS etc... - MUCH less than last spring - (again no real surprise after last year's hot April) - expect these to pick up 'n' all...
DAMSEL/DRAGONFLIES - Like everything else I think - a slow(ish) start, but good numbers now.
SPIDERS/ NON-INSECTS - MUCH, much less than last year at present.
Just read the above and an unsurprising pattern seems to have emerged.
Last year's bug-life got off to a flying start with the April weather, and then crashed in May - for the whole summer.
THIS year however - a slow(ish) start, but picking up day by day methinks.
Nothing out of the ordinary when you think about it (at least I think so), and no real surprise....
TBR  |
14-06-2008, 07:53 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 7,655
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
I think it's variable - plenty of bumble bees (although not Bombus lapidarius) but very few hoverflies. Ladybirds and other beetles ar late - plenty of larvae and some pupae around but very few imagines. I expect that if we don't get cold/wet weather then we shall have a good summer for insects! |
14-06-2008, 07:56 AM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Northumberland
Posts: 360
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
I haven't seen many Butterflies! nor wasps. |
14-06-2008, 08:13 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Wales
Posts: 86
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
I agree with Black Rabbit that its not really wise to directly compare one year with another. Also geographic region (even at a local level) can make a difference.
Having said that, here in West Wales we had more insects on the wing in March this year than in June last year, and the river is teeming with bug life. Noticeable by there absence are wasps at present. I have found a couple simply dead (one entering its nest) and wonder if they are suffering from verroa type mite though I could not see evidence of any. Anyone else noticed dying wasps? |
14-06-2008, 04:47 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 157
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
Hi I've been stuggling for butterflies this year apart from Holly Blues there does seem to be less around
Also the dragonflies are a bit later this year too
I have been seeing lots of Bumble bees though
Pete |
14-06-2008, 04:57 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mid Glamorgan South Wales
Posts: 2,687
| | | Re: Scarcity of insects?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pressld2  I went stalking with a macro lens in my garden a couple of nights ago. Saw one wasp (who wouldn't settle for a photo) and one speckled bush-cricket nymph - that was it! And no spiders either. I'm hoping they're just late and everything will start buzzing in the next few weeks.
Dave P. | yesterday evening and this afternoon I did the same thing, nothing cept large red damselfly mating and the odd fly. Was out there ages too. Maybe the birds are scoffing most of them as they have young to support.
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