you might be in a less ravaged area, round here by 63% would probably be a good thing
my observational estimate is over 90% numbers and many spp not present
Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 6689 Location: New England (In the US of A)
Posted: Thu May 01, 25 1:45 pm Post subject:
I keep seeing the headlines, but similar to MR have an abundance of insect biomass and species diversity directly around me.
I wonder how much is a rural urban divide. Also agree that improved aerodynamics should mean fewer splats. Need data from a model that just doesn't get changed over time, like the old US post office trucks. (Only now starting to be replaced)
You could be right Slim. I do notice fewer on some roads than perhaps 50 years ago, as it wasn't unusual to drive through a mass of them at times, but certainly in the woods and the garden we have more than enough. Don't know about species as I am afraid my bug ID skills are minimal.
How many people really care? Too few to be of influence?
Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 6689 Location: New England (In the US of A)
Posted: Fri May 02, 25 9:55 am Post subject:
I bet the 1/3 of species that are increasing in abundance are the more adaptable ones.
I understand the need to raise alarm, but that was written to be very alarming, while only barely mentioning that 97% of the species had pockets where they were increasing in abundance. Honestly, it's a more impressive display of adaptation to a changing world than I might have guessed
It is probably good to make people aware of issues, and that can perhaps only be done by being shocking, but scientifically, not helpful.
Changes in management will affect birds and all flora and fauna a great deal. Woodland birds in the UK are declining because of a decrease in management of a lot of woodland rather than the more intensive management in the form of coppice and ride maintenance that used to be carried out. Farmland birds are decreasing because of changes in farming too, but now a lot of farmers are putting in bug banks, open areas for ground nesting birds, hedges and other features to help birds and other fauna. For years a lot of farmers have put in things like millet and maize on the edge or corners of fields to feed birds over winter. A reduction in the use of slug pellets has also probably helped in gardens, although very tidy or paved over gardens don't help anything.
That's good news Dpack. We went looking when we were in the vicinity, but couldn't see anything. Probably wrong time of year. Also good that some satellite populations have been established so there will hopefully be more if anything happens to the main one.
they are only topside for a few weeks of breeding, most of their life cycle is in soil among tansey roots
i do not know what they eat when underground, plenty of choices for em
counting them is a two week window
dock beetles are often mistaken for them, on dock and twice the size is a bit of a clue, they have a much longer upside season
they are very pretty and they eat docks
they are only topside for a few weeks of breeding, most of their life cycle is in soil among tansey roots
i do not know what they eat when underground, plenty of choices for em
counting them is a two week window
dock beetles are often mistaken for them, on dock and twice the size is a bit of a clue, they have a much longer upside season
they are very pretty and they eat docks
round ish holes about 8mm across and sometimes joining up in the dock leaves are a hint they were or are there
bright iridescent green beetles, basic shape is plump in 3 directions, size is variable, males are smaller than the women, most are under 8mm but there are a few giant beasty ones in most colonies that get upto to a cm longways
No, pretty sure I have never seen them. They do sound pretty though.
We get some sort of oil beetle a lot in the 'yard' in the woods and the badgers dig in the sawdust pile for grubs of some sort. There also seem to a lot of bitey things; some are gnats, but others are quite small but still bite.
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