42 replies to this topic

[NickAnter]

I actually just saw an alligator lizard yesterday in my yard for the first time in years.

[ConcordAntman]

Did read this recently: https://www.google.c...?outputType=amp

I haven’t seen a decline in my area other than slightly less butterflies. I haven’t seen a Hemaris moth either this year, which is odd.

I saw that article and I’m somewhat surprised. I have a general sense that there’s been a decline even if this study hasn’t shown it. I’ve lived all over the country but mostly in the Northeast. As a kid and into my 20’s, I remember summer road trips needing to stop for gas and to clean bug carcasses off the windshield or evenings with lightning bugs filling the skies over a knoll. In 2017 I took a 6000 mile cross country road trip. I saw more radar traps than bugs and I can’t tell you the last time I saw more than 2 or 3 lightning bugs. It’s not objective and might not be statistically significant but there sure seems to be fewer (and different) bugs around. 

[ANTdrew]

Did read this recently: https://www.google.c...?outputType=amp

I haven’t seen a decline in my area other than slightly less butterflies. I haven’t seen a Hemaris moth either this year, which is odd.

I retract my statement. Just saw a Hemaris moth, and my native plant garden is full of butterflies today.

[Martialis]

Did Virginia get the tendon cold snap in May? In Indiana that stunted Lepidoptera populations quite a bit.

[ANTdrew]

We did have a very cold May. I think we even froze at one point.

[Solenoqueen]

In my area in SoCal, Argentine ants are stronger than ever before, but so are the Brachymyrmex and S. xyloni populations. Unfortunately, it seems that the local Pheidole have withdrawn, but I managed to catch a minimal amount of Hypoponera, Crematogaster, loads of Solenopsis, and even a fraggle at one point (which unfortunately escaped from her tube). No massive flights, however.

[Vendayn]

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Edited by Vendayn, January 1 2021 - 10:58 PM.

[ConcordAntman]

It might not be insects but it might literally be the canary in the coal mine!

 

https://www.nytimes....ce=articleShare

[KitsAntVa]

I've had a loss of every native ant except the ones that fight for themselves, or keep their distance by hiding in wood. I've seen a loss of inchworms, Moths, Frogs, and many more things but what is really good is that i am seeing many new species pop up, i saw a eastern hercules beetle the other day, a female one in fact and many more other unidentified insects so at least that good right?

[Ants_Dakota]

we didn't even have a pronounced formica flight this year, which is very unusual. I have caught formica for years and suddenly, i caught none.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I will throw in one positive. Last year we saw zero monarchs in our area of NorCal. This year there have been a few. (Though they've completely ignored the scraggly milkweed I planted.)

[ANTdrew]

I’ve seen 24 monarchs in my area so far this year.

[KitsAntVa]

Yes I have seen many monarchs to and last year I didn’t matter of fact year before last I didn’t really see any either, and antsdakota that’s pretty weird but it may just be that your not near a Formica nest, I have one in my front yard and there were many queens but I only decided to catch 3.

[1Shadow1]

I read scientific article on lightning bugs since I have seen less and less. Apparently they're in trouble. Light pollution along with pollution, logging and pesticides are the main causes of their decline. For many years I saw a drop in salamanders and other lizards. Barely have any now...you can only find them in the woods where all the pesticides and pollution haven't gotten to them yet. The farmers around here have been clearing every inch of ground so they can increase crop yield.

 

I read a recent article stating that animal populations have dropped by 60-70 percent in the last 40-50 years and that 50% of shallow water corals have disappeared in the last 30 years.

[Canadian anter]

I feel like a very large range of ants here have had uncharacteristically "weak" flights

 

> Prenolepis

> Camponotus outside of BC, and pennsylvanicus in rural Southern Ontario

> Formica and Lasius in central provinces

> Pogonomyrmex (Alberta had much smaller flights, and it seems BC has had 2 flights in the past 5 years, and have been moved a month early)

> Myrmica 

 

Many species were earlier than usual, in addition to "weaker"

> Aphaenogaster

> Lasius, especially in Eastern Canada

> Solenopsis

 

I have actually seen more Lepidoptera this year, but interestingly not a single Red Admiral or Clouded Sulphur, which I saw everywhere in previous years

Edited by Canadian anter, September 16 2020 - 2:51 PM.

[ANTdrew]

This thread makes me want to drink.

[NickAnter]

One of the main troubles in my area for flights this year was the lack of June Gloom, which the Hypoponera flights depend on, as well as other cryptics. It has overall been a less humid year, which isn't good in general. Lots of monarchs, but the caterpillars are pretty much immediately killed by the Polistes(stupid things), and argentines have had a resurgence, as Nylanderia populations are growing small due to the aforementioned fact of a lower humidity.

[ConcordAntman]

 Is it just me, or does it seem that there's a species decline article every week?

https://www.nytimes....pgtype=Homepage

[ANTdrew]

Sad.
Well, I’m up to 28 monarchs, at least.

[Vendayn]

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Edited by Vendayn, January 1 2021 - 10:59 PM.