Vee
What's been lost...
Entomologists from Krefeld, Germany, collected flying insects for two weeks in August 1994 (left) and—at the same site, with an identical trap— in August 2016 (right). Similar data from 63 German protected areas overall gave a shocking result: a 76 percent drop in insect biomass between 1989 and 2016.
It has worsened significantly in the past 9 years.
Photographed at Entomological Society of Krefeld
Jun 5, 2025 at 9:56pmWeb
Show threadParttimesailorJun 5, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 unfortunately lacks context about changes from then until now.
Show threadregenrohrJun 6, 2025
@JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99 meaning?
Show threadFusselwurmJun 7, 2025

@regenrohr @JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99

Meaning that there might be a lot of variation between the years. Like… maybe August 1994 was an exceptionably good month for insects, and 2016 a very bad one.

(for the record, I believe this to be rather unlikely)

Show threadMatej LexaJun 6, 2025
@JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99 At least two of three likely factors increased in intensity in the last decades: radio noise, light smog, and chemicals.
Show threadCindyJun 6, 2025
@matej_lexa @JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99
IDK anything about How radio noise interplays ~ will you please explain This, a little?
Show threadMatej LexaJun 6, 2025
@TrueBlue4THREE @JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99 I know it is being studied, like here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723038342
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31949179/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24750263.2024.2308550#abstract
Show threadCindyJun 6, 2025
@matej_lexa @JCBlubaugh @VeroniqueB99
Thank You, I will check it out😊
Show threadMrinappropriateJun 5, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 We.Are.Fucked. This is stark evidence of our planet’s future. We, and many more species will be gone. The planet’ll be fine. Perhaps cockroaches will rule. We do not deserve this home.
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@MrInappropriate 👍 💯
Show threadLittle Bunny Frou FrouJun 5, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 I noticed after a long drive windshields aren't covered in bugs like they were when I was a kid. I miss bugs
Show threadRobinF❌️👑Jun 6, 2025
@BunnyBrave @VeroniqueB99 exactly. You can't drive anywhere in summer without it being really noticeable and scary.
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@BunnyBrave 👍
Show threadScriptFanix💍Jun 6, 2025
@BunnyBrave 💯 No-one born before the 90s can deny this
@VeroniqueB99
Show thread📄 Mehdi.docJun 7, 2025
@BunnyBrave @VeroniqueB99 why do all your methods of counting insects involve killing them 🥲
Show threadLittle Bunny Frou FrouJun 7, 2025
@mehdi_benadel
Not all of my methods do, my other method is counting how many insects I can tenderly kiss on the forehead and offer a little snack to but it's much more time consuming
Show threadGaladJun 5, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 I highly suspect that this is a direct consequence of pesticides being overused.
Show threadcontrasocialJun 6, 2025

@galad @VeroniqueB99

The horrible thing is that similar declines are seen in protected areas with minimal interference from direct human activity like pollutants.

Pesticides definitely don't help, but this is driven by climate change. Many insects and other life are evolved to fit in a very specific environmental niche, when the timing of seasons and weather patterns gets messed up it throws the life cycle of these insects into chaos. Like when a tree blooms too early and gets killed by frost

Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@galad 👍 💯
Show threadKanaMaunaJun 6, 2025

@VeroniqueB99

About 40 years ago I would have to clean all the dead bugs off my windshield after a visit to my realitives over in the Valley. Nowadays, my windshield is always clean.

Show threadTakiro 🎨Jun 6, 2025
@KanaMauna @VeroniqueB99
Exactly this. When I was a kid and travelled with my parents the family car's front was covered in bugs. Now, 30 years later on my own car it's barely worth mentioning. Everyone can see it for themselves, if they want, but most don't.
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@Takiro @KanaMauna 👍
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@KanaMauna 👍 💯
Show threadan actual busJun 6, 2025

@VeroniqueB99 maybe the trap from 1989 caught all the insects

Seriously though, I can think of many causes for this but I'll share one that has not yet been mentioned here, artificial light. There's so much of it and flying insects b-line for it whenever they see it, that *has* to mess with their life cycle over time.

Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@renardboy 👍 💯
Show threadAlexander Goeres 𒀯Jun 6, 2025
@Vee everybody who was driving a car for longer distances in the 80s and today can notice the difference. back then you had to stop often enough to clean the windscreen from unlucky insects to keep a clear view. today can go for hours without even one insect hitting the screen ...
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@jabgoe2089 👍
Show threadhorstworstJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99
It's called "Krefelder Studie" - here is a mention from 2022 (in german)
https://www.riffreporter.de/de/umwelt/insektensterben-krefelder-studie-5-jahre-faq-fragen-antworten-biodiversitaet
@riffreporter
Insektensterben: Wie steht es fünf Jahre nach der Krefelder Studie um die Insekten?

Antworten auf die wichtigsten Fragen

RiffReporter
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@horstworst @riffreporter 👍
Show threadFrançois @JuraJun 6, 2025

@VeroniqueB99

I bought a piece of land (2000 sq. m). I plan to build a small wooden cottage on it (50 sq. m.) the rest will be filled with trees and flowers for insects and birds.

I also encourage everybody to support rewilding groups. For example, Randal Plunkett and he is the 21st Baron of Dunsany, is a metal head, horor movie director and feminist engaged in rewilding. An original guy worth promoting.

Show threadraweJun 6, 2025

@FrancoisPrague can you provide some tips/links, especially what types of flower/tree/plants to grow?

We start with a "small" 200 m² piece of land next week.

@VeroniqueB99

Show threadFrançois @JuraJun 6, 2025

@stereo4x4 @VeroniqueB99

It depends where you live and how global warming will affect your locality. For example where I come from, we had fir trees but they won't survive the next 20 years so we had to go for a special kind of oak.

Show threadraweJun 6, 2025

@FrancoisPrague You are right... I just asked a local gardener to have a look and recommend plants/trees.

@VeroniqueB99

Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@FrancoisPrague 👍
Show threadSolar Branka Jun 6, 2025

@FrancoisPrague @VeroniqueB99

I found this article interesting -

Guerilla seed bombing -
https://wildseedproject.net/blog/native-seed-balls

Native Seed Balls – Dispersing Seeds with Guerilla Action — Wild Seed Project

There is something satisfying about the idea of tossing seeds of wild flowers or trees into an empty area with the hope that it will magically turn into a flowery meadow or forest. After all, seeds scatter in nature by chance…

Wild Seed Project
Show threadnotsoloudJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99
#Alt4You Two cylindrical 2 liter lab glasses, both containing a light brown fluid with a mass of insects at the bottom. The left glass gas more than 1500 mL of insects, the right glass around 250 mL.
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@notsoloud TYSM!! 🙏
Show threadRoman VilgutJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99
Total ban of neonics with no exceptions in eu are in effect only sinde 2024. Let's hope, that this will reverse at least some of the damage. But even then, it will take years
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)Jun 6, 2025
@RomanVilgut @VeroniqueB99 I was surprised it took so far in the thread for someone to bring up pesticides. Just because they're not applied in a particular area doesn't mean it has no impact when applied somewhere else; many insects are migratory!!
Show threadRoman VilgutJun 6, 2025
@cwicseolfor @VeroniqueB99 of corse, that´s true. But EU is a big area...
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)Jun 6, 2025
@RomanVilgut @VeroniqueB99 I fully agree - that will do a lot to remove one of the worst pressures on insect populations for a wide area. My point is more after having seen people suggest that the insect decline ought to be patchy and localized if it's explained by [whatever thing they want to continue] - this isn't something concerned individuals can solve alone, it needs systemic address exactly like the EU policy.
Show threadRoman VilgutJun 6, 2025

@cwicseolfor @VeroniqueB99 could not agree more...

besides... Maybe it's positive thinking, but I live in the middle of the EU and I feel like hearing more birds then 5 years before, and I defintivly have to wipe my windscreen more often.

Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@RomanVilgut 👍 💯
Show threadAndréJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 that reflects my experience, espcialy what windshields used to be dirty then and now
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@asltf 👍
Show threadRania PapasozomenouJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 this is so shocking. Please please don‘t rake, leave deadwood on the soil, keep your garden „untidy“ as much as you can. Don‘t spray pesticides. We can fix this
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@rania_papasozomenou 👍 💯
Show threadEuan MasonJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 Yes. It’s also very clear that our cars collide with far fewer #insects at night than they did during the 1970s. #insectageddon
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@TreeStarMan 👍
Show threadHerr Leon Jun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 And who has its headquarters in Krefeld?
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@herrleon 😱
Show threadBleistifterinJun 7, 2025
@herrleon @VeroniqueB99 i thought they were in Leverkusen?
Show threadDeixis9Jun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 We won't even be able to eat insects instead of meat because they will be gone too?
Show threadVeeJun 6, 2025
@Deixis9 👍
Show threadDr. JabJun 6, 2025
@VeroniqueB99 would you provide the link to the study? I'm interested in reading it!
Show threadLuc, CréoleJun 6, 2025

@VeroniqueB99
"If you trap insects year after year, don't be suprised if there are fewer and fewer of them !"

(joking, of course, that's very worrying indeed)

Show threadhuman curationJun 6, 2025
@lc_lol not even a joke though, they absolutely could have used a trap that wouldnt harm them