[paul cotter (OP)]

We live in a rural location in the middle of a forest and have been here for~30 years. Previously(10 or more years ago) in July and August we would be inundated with all kinds of weird and wonderful bugs and critters. Not anymore, the last few years have witnessed a dramatic decline. For example we used to see cinnabar moths every year but no longer. We had several swallow families regularly breeding in an outbuilding and these have ceased, presumably due to lack of food. I should also point out that we practice rewilding over a large portion of our .75acre.

[alancalverd]

Likewise in rural Cambridgeshire. The "garden" is a roughly mown meadow next to woodland. Noted absence of insectivorous birds and bats this year. I doubt that destroying two wasp nests can be entirely to blame - indeed the wasps' prey insects should have flourished. 

But my son based in the Hebrides swears (literally) that the midge population hasn't suffered. I think climate change has driven the insects further north faster than the migratory birds could follow.

On the upside, I've spent a lot less time scraping bugs off the windscreen and leading edge of the plane. Time was that you couldn't safely land into the sunset after a couple of hours' flight because of the frosting of chitin over everything!

[paul cotter (OP)]

We have pipistrelles living in our attic and these seem to be as active and numerous as normal, possibly the only thing that appears so. Actually you reminded me of one other occurrence that seems normal- midges. We live on land that was once bog and one does not have to stray far to reach virgin bog and the midges associated would have one running for cover, especially on a hot summer night. One other pest that has been largely absent, whom I call Pegasus(horsefly/cleg), was previously a major problem and is not missed.

[Petrochemicals]

I think climate change

Lol.

[Petrochemicals]

I should also point out that we practice rewilding over a large portion of our .75acre.

Modern farming goes along way to sterilise the countryside, a few patches of rough ground are not enough, its why golden eagles will not repopulate Ireland England and Wales even though they can see it.

I seem to remember a ball of fire in the sky some years back that used to be there when insects abounded. Crickets for example always are associated with the heat, you dont get many when its gloomy cool and wet. Its been 2 very poor summers in a row so any cold blooded insects and reptiles will be having a hard time of it.

[alancalverd]

I think climate change

Lol.

Why the laughter? The effect is obvious, but the popular cause is a myth. 

[paul cotter (OP)]

"Ball of fire" in the sky? I seem to remember a similar phenomenon but it was so long ago I can't be absolutely certain. It would not work these days, way too much rain which would extinguish it, unfortunately.

[alancalverd]

Please send some over here. No significant precipitation for 3 weeks, garden looking like a desert. But suddenly, no shortage of flies and a complete absence of insectivorous birds!

[paul cotter (OP)]

Despite my prodigious powers I have not yet achieved weather control, I am working on it and will update you whenever successful, which is only a matter of time. I am right now looking out the window at the incessant rain. We were out of the country from 24/8 and on return I find my courgettes are turning into marrows, so it must have been raining in our absence.

[Petrochemicals]

He is just rubbing it in now Paul.

[paul cotter (OP)]

No worries, Alan and myself like to joust occasionally.

[alancalverd]

And my prayer to Paul actually worked. Nice refreshing shower this morning.

[paul cotter (OP)]

Yep, that's me, "the venerable saint Paul of perennial precipitation".

[paul cotter (OP)]

Damn, I just screwed things up. I sent some rain in Alan's direction but it now looks like it will miss Cambridgeshire, I will have to improve my technique!

[paul cotter (OP)]

From one extreme to another: I tried to send Alan some rain but I missed Cambridgeshire so I tried again and it now looks like I have flooded the aforementioned county! I hope Alan's abode has not flooded- he won't be pleased with me.