84
Canada has lost over 60% of its flying insects since the 1970s, leaving tree swallows smaller and less successful at breeding, scientists found (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/canada@lemmy.ca
7 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 20 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I tell a story about driving across Canada in the 1970s and one of my memories is the windshield wipers going all day and night in Northern Ontario because of the bugs. When I did the trip again around 2010 I made a big deal about having extra jugs of wiper fluid ready. Didn't turn them on once. Scarcely a bug to be seen.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 13 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    This combined with local drought for quite a few years now followed by more rain in a month than we typically got in a year caused an insect population explosion, locally. I've not seen so many insects in quite awhile.

    It's still like a tenth of what I remember as a kid in the 90's :(

    Haven't witnessed a locust swarm since like 2002.

    ...remembering the disgusting camper van grill cleaning job at every gas station 🤮 baked on insect guts and gibs.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago

    One modification to a car we bought in 1990 was to put a window screen in front of the radiator, as it was far easier to remove it regularly and clean than try to not damage the clogged radiator fins. I haven't had to worry about such things for decades now in later cars. Hell, even seeing a bug strike now while driving is like catching a rare meteor, an event. But then it reminds me how bad it is. :(

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago

    Same here. in the 80s our family trips through Alberta and Saskatchewan would result in the car's windshield and radiator being covered in various types of bugs; we kids would be fascinated by all the different types (though most were grasshoppers). No more. We've severely fucked up the biosphere when insects are diminishing like this.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent