The abundance of flying insects has plunged by three-quarters over the past 25 years, according to a new study that has shocked scientists. (emphasis added)
Insects are an integral part of life on Earth as both pollinators and prey for other wildlife and it was known that some species such as butterflies were declining. But the newly revealed scale of the losses to all insects has prompted warnings that the world is “on course for ecological Armageddon”, with profound impacts on human society.
The new data was gathered in nature reserves across Germany but has implications for all landscapes dominated by agriculture, the researchers said.
The cause of the huge decline is as yet unclear, although the destruction of wild areas and widespread use of pesticides are the most likely factors and climate change may play a role. The scientists were able to rule out weather and changes to landscape in the reserves as causes, […]
This is why I became a beekeeper, again. The pollinators were so low, the garden only produced 4 squash and far fewer pole beans. Shared on my FB page. The Guardian is a daily good read as are some articles in Truthdig. Thanks Stephan.
Thank you, John Gabriel for your work as a beekeeper. You and others, like you are holding an important trust for all of the rest of us – that a life giving future can still happen.
Over the last year or so I’ve been thinking about the decline in insects in our world. I think often about a moment in the mid 1950’s when I was 10’ish or so and was in a goldenrod field down on my hands and knees absorbed in awe watching a 6” praying mantis holding on to a stem with it’s bottom 4 feet with a honey bee in its’ top left fore munching away on it head first! I was just inches a way amazed and thrilled. Bees flying all around everywhere at work amongst the bright yellow flowers and… Read more »
If we don’t get a handle on this pesticide issue very soon, we will be S.O.L. and paying people to hand pollinate crops like they are doing in China. I don’t know what it will take for people to heed the wake-up call…but inability to grow food staples might be something that gets some attention!
Thank you for your work as a beekeeper! I urge everyone who reads this to find a way to add your voice to the farmers, the gardeners, the knowledgeable citizens by signing petitions, writing letters and calling your representatives. Public records show that the use of pesticides from Monsanto, Bayer, Dupont, Syngenta have harmed our food supplies. That these same poisons are now being found in large amounts in human blood streams and are often linked to cancer. They are also traveling from the original points of application to neighboring fields and farms. These pesticides which are infused into GMO… Read more »