Insects around the world are in a crisis, according to a small but growing number of long-term studies showing dramatic declines in invertebrate populations. A new report suggests that the problem is more widespread than scientists realized. Huge numbers of bugs have been lost in a pristine national forest in Puerto Rico, the study found, and the forest’s insect-eating animals have gone missing, too.
In 2014, an international team of biologists estimated that, in the past 35 years, the abundance of invertebrates such as beetles and bees had decreased by 45 percent. In places where long-term insect data are available, mainly in Europe, insect numbers are plummeting. A study last year showed a 76 percent decrease in flying insects in the past few decades in German nature preserves.
The latest report, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that this startling loss of insect abundance extends to the Americas. The study’s authors implicate climate change in the loss of tropical invertebrates.
“This study in PNAS is a real wake-up call — a clarion call — that the phenomenon could be much, much bigger, and across many more ecosystems,” said David Wagner, an expert in invertebrate conservation at the University of Connecticut who was not involved with this research. He added: “This is one of the most disturbing articles I have ever read.”
Who said it hasn't? Things like this take time to fully manifest. I wouldn't be surprised if large swaths of animal populations start to falter in the coming years.haha all you young suckers are gonna have to die early. Seriously it should of affected all sorts of other animals especially birds.
haha all you young suckers are gonna have to die early. Seriously it should of affected all sorts of other animals especially birds.
“Everything is dropping,” Lister said. The most common invertebrates in the rain forest — the moths, the butterflies, the grasshoppers, the spiders and others — are all far less abundant.
“Holy crap,” Wagner said of the 60-fold loss.
Insect-eating frogs and birds plummeted, too. Another research team used mist nets to capture birds in 1990, and again in 2005. Captures fell by about 50 percent. Garcia and Lister analyzed the data with an eye on the insectivores. The ruddy quail dove, which eats fruits and seeds, had no population change. A brilliant green bird called the Puerto Rican tody, which eats bugs almost exclusively, diminished by 90 percent.
The food web appears to have been obliterated from the bottom. It’s credible that the authors link the cascade to arthropod loss, Schowalter said, because “you have all these different taxa showing the same trends — the insectivorous birds, frogs and lizards — but you don’t see those among seed-feeding birds.”
They are food for many other animals. I personally have never been bitten by a mosquito. My wife on the other hand is a mosquito magnet.I'm okay if all the mosquitos in the world just disappear forever.
I'm okay if all the mosquitos in the world just disappear forever.
How do we make this happen to ticks?
Truth.Seems like shit life thrives when things get tough. Oaks and ash are dying, but damned if bittersweet and English ivy aren't thriving. Other animals are going extinct, but we have new and exciting varieties of ticks at increased numbers. If it's shitty, you'll have more than you want. If it's cool, enjoy it while it's here, cause it's probably going away.
I miss Madoka. I wonder what ever happened him.madoka probably bought those 99 pistols in preparation for the bugpocolypse
I have the throttle and am open for business.The world will create some chemical to make the disappearing bugs more hardier, then the bugs will overtake the world. Just watch, you'll see.
I wear high ankle socks. I don't understand the trend to socks that disappear in your shoes. What really makes sense is socks that end at your waist, or even your neck.seriously! i don't dare go walking in the woods or on unpaved trails anymore. i stick to sidewalks, or parks with asphalt or stone trails.
maybe when they finally get a lyme disease vaccine i'll start going on hikes again
I wear high ankle socks. I don't understand the trend to socks that disappear in your shoes. What really makes sense is socks that end at your waist, or even your neck.
I wear high ankle socks. They rub off the hair on my calves but keep me from getting Lyme Disease.i hate those low-cut ankle socks!
I wear high ankle socks. They rub off the hair on my calves but keep me from getting Lyme Disease.
Skeeters travel across state lines to bite me. There outta be a law i tells ya.They are food for many other animals. I personally have never been bitten by a mosquito. My wife on the other hand is a mosquito magnet.