Fewer Summer Insects

Steve Smith writes:

There has been a noticeable decline in the number of insects all year but particularly this Spring and Summer. Daily commutes 17 miles to work used to require cleaning off the bugs from the windshield and radiator by the end of the week. I can go days without a single bug hitting the car. Half of the drive is through forested areas as well as fields that should be full of insects. Birds have been feeding continuously the past two years here from feeders using premium, already shelled seeds (no mess). The number of birds and species visiting has increased. Parents are bringing their young to the feeders and teaching them where the food is. You can see them showing the young until they mimic them and eat as well. It could be the quality of the food that brings them but it could also be a lack of insects that they have to eat. It has been 15 years since I have seen a praying mantis here in North Georgia in the bushes around the house. Having lived in this area since 1971 they used to be everywhere and easy to find. Only a handful of butterflies have been seen since April. Fireflies at night in the back yard are one or two instead of 15 -20 flashing their lights. There has not been a single moth sighting at all around the house. If the outside house lights are left on there always used to be a swirling mass of insects being attracted to the light. There are literally none most nights all summer. That is probably the worst indicator I can mention in this report. Public parks where flowers are planted seem bare of insects. There might be one butterfly and two bees to be seen. At night only one or two cicadas can be heard in the trees. No crickets have been heard for weeks when usually their noise would go all night. I started looking for insects months ago only to find them significantly absent from this area.