4 ms·

Dupe? There's already a discussion on a general insect population decline on the frontpage. "Insect collapse" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18909650 h

Dupe? There's already a discussion on a general insect population decline on the frontpage. "Insect collapse" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18909650 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18909650

TaylorAlexander 8y ago
The monarch story in particular really hits home for me. I’m glad both are up here.
searine 8y ago
They might be two different issues. General insect collapse is likely dude to the overuse of broad spectrum insecticides. Monarch collapse is more likely due to reductions in milkweed population. Milkweed is often found on the edges of corn/soy fields so there is definitely an add on effect, but its probably not the root cause. The solution is pretty clear though, if you care about monarchs, plant some milkweed.
- artursapek 8y ago
  I have a ziploc bag in my fridge with my first set of milkweed seeds... preparing them for sowing with a month of cold stratification. I am planning to give the seedlings out to neighbors this Spring. Anyone wishing to do the same can buy some seeds here: https://www.rareseeds.com/milkweed-butterfly-weed/ https://www.rareseeds.com/milkweed-butterfly-weed/
  - mark-r 8y ago
    It turns out there are many varieties of milkweeds. The one I'm familiar with here in the midwest is this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca
    - artursapek 8y ago
      The one I linked supposedly does well in CO, where I live.
  - eigenstuff 8y ago
    I'm planning to do the same (so thanks for the link!) in addition to roping off the wild patches of milkweed in our hay fields so they don't get mowed by the farmer we lease our land to. I'll add on to this, if anybody out there is interested, join the monarch waystation network! I got my waystation certificate in the mail a few weeks ago. https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/ https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/
throwaway5752 8y ago
No, definitely not a dupe. This is a specific update in the context of a general trend.

TaylorAlexander 8y ago

The monarch story in particular really hits home for me. I’m glad both are up here.

searine 8y ago

They might be two different issues. General insect collapse is likely dude to the overuse of broad spectrum insecticides. Monarch collapse is more likely due to reductions in milkweed population. Milkweed is often found on the edges of corn/soy fields so there is definitely an add on effect, but its probably not the root cause. The solution is pretty clear though, if you care about monarchs, plant some milkweed.

artursapek 8y ago
I have a ziploc bag in my fridge with my first set of milkweed seeds... preparing them for sowing with a month of cold stratification. I am planning to give the seedlings out to neighbors this Spring. Anyone wishing to do the same can buy some seeds here: https://www.rareseeds.com/milkweed-butterfly-weed/ https://www.rareseeds.com/milkweed-butterfly-weed/
- mark-r 8y ago
  It turns out there are many varieties of milkweeds. The one I'm familiar with here in the midwest is this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca
  - artursapek 8y ago
    The one I linked supposedly does well in CO, where I live.
- eigenstuff 8y ago
  I'm planning to do the same (so thanks for the link!) in addition to roping off the wild patches of milkweed in our hay fields so they don't get mowed by the farmer we lease our land to. I'll add on to this, if anybody out there is interested, join the monarch waystation network! I got my waystation certificate in the mail a few weeks ago. https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/ https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/

throwaway5752 8y ago

No, definitely not a dupe. This is a specific update in the context of a general trend.