Citizen science survey shows 78 per cent decline in ‘bug splats’ on number plates

Citizen science survey shows 78 per cent decline in ‘bug splats’ on number plates

Archived version: https://archive.ph/N9Yal

  • Obi@sopuli.xyz
    601·
    7 months ago

    Didn’t need a study to notice this, the difference between when I was a kid and now is stark, used to be the car would be covered in them by the time we got to vacation, now it’s clean as a whistle.

    • ristoril_zip@lemmy.zipEnglish
      48·
      7 months ago

      What’s really gonna suck is when people are like “holy shit why did they let us kill all the bugs if they were so important?!!”

      Personally my property (2 acres) is free of all pesticides and herbicides. I’m killing introduced species of plants (trees of heaven and privet) by hand mostly pulling them out of the ground.

      This year I might add Japanese honeysuckle to the target list.

      I mean we’re probably doomed to some sort of major collapse either way, but I’ll do what I can on the micro scale and vote for people who will fight for the right path on the macro (e.g. never Republican).

      PS - I do use poison bait inside for ants and cockroaches so not 100%. Only when they get noticable. Sorry.

      • Avg@lemm.ee
        3·
        7 months ago

        If you are in the US or Europe, tree of heaven is an invasive species.

        • ristoril_zip@lemmy.zipEnglish
          3·
          7 months ago

          Yep! But they’re a dickens to actually eradicate. I’m going to be hatcheting some gashes in a big one or two on my property in August or September so I can poison its roots with glyphosate when it starts getting ready for fall. I’ve learned the hard way that if you leave the roots healthy you’re making tons of future work for yourself.

          Privet is also a runner based plant and it’s also not from North America, but I’ve had more success looking it the old fashioned way.

          It’s really gratifying to watch native species rebound and move back into the places after the introduced/invasive plants have been removed.

          • MoonMelon@lemmy.ml
            2·
            7 months ago

            I’ve been fighting tree of heaven for years, and I’ve had the most success with triclopyr ester mixed with oil. The product I use is called Pathfinder. Can’t use it close to water though. But I’ve been able to take a couple totally infested acres down to just the occasional seedling. No hacking required, which is nice, just soak the trunk around the base in late summer.

  • BigTrout75@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    7 months ago

    Moved to the burbs a couple of years ago. Every spring we have (aggressive) salesmen knocking on our door trying to spray around our house for bugs.

    • Blackout@kbin.run
      29·
      7 months ago

      They are so persistent too. I have this conversation a few times a year.

      Guy: we can spray and kill all the bugs in your yard Me: no thanks, the bugs are there so the birds have something to eat. Guy: we use an organic compound that won’t hurt the birds. Me: NO Guy: do you have spiders in the house? Me: yes there are a few. Guy: We can spray… Me: no, the spiders are there to catch the flies and centipedes that make it inside. I don’t need your help because everything functions like it should. Guy: confused look on his face

      • ButteredMonkey@lemmy.world
        14·
        7 months ago

        I’m so happy that I’m not the only one who leaves spiders (mostly) alone in the house. I had a neighbor once who was like, “Uhh… there’s a big 'ol spider in your bathroom.” One of my children then goes, “That’s Henrietta. She lives behind the toilet and eats bugs.” The neighbor looked at us like we were crazy. Henrietta’s offspring have been living quietly in my downstairs bathroom eating ants for about 20 years now.

        • kn33@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          7 months ago

          I also leave spiders as long as they stay in the corners. If they invade my personal space, they forfeit their lives.

      • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        4·
        7 months ago

        My wife has to handle those guys for me now. They blatantly lie about their product and I got nasty with one when I started calling them on their bullshit. Fuckers are destroying the planet to make a very small amount of money.

      • Katana314@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        7 months ago

        Not to worry birds, we have taken care of your task of killing all the bugs in the forest. Now your summer is open for watching Netflix.

  • Piemanding@sh.itjust.works
    62·
    7 months ago

    I’m seeing several of these posts about how there’s fewer bugs right as bugs on my bumper/windshield is starting to be a problem. Is this just people looking this up because they are seeing more bugs?

  • Quacksalber@sh.itjust.works
    433·
    7 months ago

    This is one thing noone will convince me is a bad thing. Birds aren’t real anyways and if they are, they should just become vegans! Except for bees, bees can stay. And Butterflies maybe.