Windshield phenomenon. Are insects disappearing?

submitted by Canbot from (en.wikipedia.org)

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[–]Canbot[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

It really does seem to me that there are fewer bugs all around. The aerodynamic argument does I not seem logical since we don't see a huge difference in bug accumulation on classic cars or semi trucks which have largely not been streamlined.

Even bike helmets used to get covered and no longer do.

I think that once we destroyed the natural environment, and the insect eaters like frogs, bats, spiders etc declined there was a huge spike in insects. That made them super noticeable in urban areas. Now they are in balance with automotive insecticide.

[–]Shockwave 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

So is there a hypothesis that now that bug eaters are growing in population, the number of bugs that we see on our windshield has declined as a result?

[–]Canbot[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Are bug eaters growing in population? I haven't heard that. I think the popular opinion is that cars have decimated the bug population.

[–]kokolokoNightcrawler 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

as we speak my house is full of black flies. I feel like a fucking savage in a hut in the middle of serengeti, but I'm too tired to get up and shoo them out

[–]Canbot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Get an empty soda bottle, drop in a piece of fruit, put the cap back on, and poke a hole in the top. The flies go in but they can't come out.

[–]kokolokoNightcrawler 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

genius, ill try it

[–]the_hun 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

there are heaps of insects in my swampy area. at least ten kinds of dragonflies alone. frogs, bats and spiders too.

[–]JrBaconFatKid 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I wonder if it has anything to do with more aerodynamic cars these days? Would bugs just get swept over top of the car and not hit the windscreen if the air is being directed over the car more efficiently?

[–]Canbot[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The study took that into consideration by measuring the bug splatter on license plates. I'm only 36 and even I remember when a drive of an hour or so during a summer evening would leave your car in need of a wash. Cars have not changed that much in 20 years.