Less flying night time insects this summer.

jotom

Hello all. Ive just recently noticed a large decrease in the number of flying insects at night so far this year. We live in an estate with a great big field behind us, separated by a ditch and a fence. Living in this house 6 years now and opening a window in a room with the light on at night meant an immediate infestation of all sorts and sizes of critters but not this year. Plenty of spiders and slugs around, loads of midgets out in the country in my parents but not here. Could it be pesticides sprayed in the field? Thanks.

Zaph

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Fluffy Cat 88

Hi. I live in the Midlands and I've noticed that too. I have the windows open all night and no moths or midges coming in.

I have noticed our cherry blossom trees and local sceachs were later blooming than last year, the grass growth was later than usual this year too.

We will probably have an onslaught of flying critters soon enough.

Ulmus

I live in a Dublin suburb. Not so many years ago if I turned the kitchen light on, on a summer's night, the window would be barraged by moths drawn to the electric light. This doesn't happen now. Climate change with wetter summers, the loss of soil turned to concrete roads and housing, the intensification of farming with pesticides and herbicides have destroyed the natural world, sadly.
Michael McCarthy has written a book, The Moth Snowstorm. I haven't read it yet but the title is apt. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25002982-the-moth-snowstorm

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

It's early yet. The cold spring left things a week or two late. July is usually the month for insects en masse.

Birdnuts

Lukas Breezy Minibike wrote: »

It's early yet. The cold spring left things a week or two late. July is usually the month for insects en masse.

I'd tend to agree with that - April has some record cold and extreme wintery conditions that set things back a lot.

Woodville56

Went out for an early morning lakeside /woodland walk yesterday here in north Midlands - no scarcity of biting midges, had to apply the repellant more than once !
I'd agree with OP though in relation to butterflies. I've been out and about quite a bit in recent days and apart from the occasional Speckled Wood, Orange Tip & Green Veined White, I thought butterflies scarce enough in what should be ideal weather for them ? May still be a bit early for some of them to be on the wing though ?

Half-cocked

Had a quick scan through my moth records for the last few years, everything appears to be a few weeks later this year due to the cold April weather.