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The EU banned field use of neonicotinoid pesticides from the start of this year. Is there evidence yet that insect populations within the EU are recovering thi

The EU banned field use of neonicotinoid pesticides from the start of this year. Is there evidence yet that insect populations within the EU are recovering this year? It's too early for scientific publications to have come out, but if you live in an agricultural area of the EU, have you observed a difference?

korpiq 7y ago
1000 days in circulation means we'll have to wait at least 4 summers to start seeing a change, I'd wager. Also, it might depend on where there are different types of insects currently, and how successful they happen to be in reproduction and spreading over time.
- whichquestion 7y ago
  Since neonics have a half-life of ~30 days when exposed to sunlight (unclear if that’s continuous exposure or what), it could be that we see some statistically significant improvements sooner than the 1000 days.
  - hedora 7y ago
    I think they hang around in the soil and waterways (where insects live) much, much longer than the UV exposed half-life. Also, I’d imagine it will take ecosystems multiple seasons (so years) to rebound and reach equilibrium.
sgt101 7y ago
I'm in rural Suffolk, UK (still part of the EU). I think that there were more bees for the first part of the summer this year, our Lime trees were buzzing for a few weeks - something that used to happen 10 years ago, but had stopped happening for a few years - I'd wondered and worried about it. We've had more insects in the garden in general this year too and far more bats, but I lined the pond last autumn and it's been alive with insects all summer so that may be the reason.
Pephers 7y ago
I live in Denmark where about 60% of the land is used for agriculture. I’m also a fly fisherman and entomology is almost a natural side effect of this hobby. This summer I’ve seen the best mayfly and caddis hatches that I’ve seen in several years. This is totally anecdotal and there likely many other factors, but increased organic farming and possibly already the ban of neonics could be showing its effects.

korpiq 7y ago

1000 days in circulation means we'll have to wait at least 4 summers to start seeing a change, I'd wager. Also, it might depend on where there are different types of insects currently, and how successful they happen to be in reproduction and spreading over time.

whichquestion 7y ago
Since neonics have a half-life of ~30 days when exposed to sunlight (unclear if that’s continuous exposure or what), it could be that we see some statistically significant improvements sooner than the 1000 days.
- hedora 7y ago
  I think they hang around in the soil and waterways (where insects live) much, much longer than the UV exposed half-life. Also, I’d imagine it will take ecosystems multiple seasons (so years) to rebound and reach equilibrium.

sgt101 7y ago

I'm in rural Suffolk, UK (still part of the EU). I think that there were more bees for the first part of the summer this year, our Lime trees were buzzing for a few weeks - something that used to happen 10 years ago, but had stopped happening for a few years - I'd wondered and worried about it. We've had more insects in the garden in general this year too and far more bats, but I lined the pond last autumn and it's been alive with insects all summer so that may be the reason.

Pephers 7y ago

I live in Denmark where about 60% of the land is used for agriculture. I’m also a fly fisherman and entomology is almost a natural side effect of this hobby. This summer I’ve seen the best mayfly and caddis hatches that I’ve seen in several years. This is totally anecdotal and there likely many other factors, but increased organic farming and possibly already the ban of neonics could be showing its effects.