5 ms·

Something I've come to think about when reading about the loss of insect biomass, and this is purely anecdotal, but it would be interesting to see if anyone els

Something I've come to think about when reading about the loss of insect biomass, and this is purely anecdotal, but it would be interesting to see if anyone else seen this. When I was young in the 70s/80s and the family was on a car vacation, it seemed like we often would stop to clear our windshield from bugs, the radiator would be full of them also, what is scary is that I do not see that now when my family is out on a car trip...

mvdwoord 7y ago
I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. The bugs don't die anymore, they whoosh over ;) Anecdotal: after driving at normal speeds, very few bugs indeed, also compared to 30 years ago. After prolonged driving on the autobahn at high speeds (200kph+) there are more bugs on the front of my car than ever. I am quite sure there is a significant decline in insects, and we should be worried and act upon that, but the bugs on car thing is not the best way to measure.
- Rotareti 7y ago
  > I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. I've been driving the same car for 20 years. I remember cleaning the bugs from the roof rack after each longer trip. There were so many bugs, the front of the rack was entirely covered with a dark coat. These days the roof rack stays completely free of bugs. I simply don't have to clean the rack any more.
- krig 7y ago
  > I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. This hypothesis is commonly offered as a possible explanation, but it's not a refutation and doesn't seem to hold up against evidence.
raphman 7y ago
see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon
new2628 7y ago
Another observation: back in the day every streetlight was surrounded by clouds of insects and butterflies swarming around them. Nowadays I see hardly any insects in the evening. It may have to do with the change in lightbulb technology and emitted light profile as well though.
pvaldes 7y ago
I assume also that the same number of insects divided by an increase in number of cars x10000 would also decrease the probability of an insect crashing against a particular car. And cars are much more aerodynamic now, that also helps
atlantacrackers 7y ago
Drive around the Deep South/Gulf Coast region when the lovebugs are out...It seems like you kill thousands per hour.
jyounker 7y ago
As a motorcyclist I've also seen this effect clearly. The frequency with which I need to clean my visor dropped incredibly between the early 90's and the late 00's.
I_complete_me 7y ago
I have a very clear memory from the 70s of driving around the roads of rural Ireland on dark evenings with my Dad - a rural vet - and swarms of insects being attracted to the headlights of the car - long before they met their demise on the windscreen. There are no swarms now, though.

mvdwoord 7y ago

I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. The bugs don't die anymore, they whoosh over ;) Anecdotal: after driving at normal speeds, very few bugs indeed, also compared to 30 years ago. After prolonged driving on the autobahn at high speeds (200kph+) there are more bugs on the front of my car than ever. I am quite sure there is a significant decline in insects, and we should be worried and act upon that, but the bugs on car thing is not the best way to measure.

Rotareti 7y ago
> I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. I've been driving the same car for 20 years. I remember cleaning the bugs from the roof rack after each longer trip. There were so many bugs, the front of the rack was entirely covered with a dark coat. These days the roof rack stays completely free of bugs. I simply don't have to clean the rack any more.
krig 7y ago
> I remember this particular data point being refuted by cars becoming more and more streamlined. This hypothesis is commonly offered as a possible explanation, but it's not a refutation and doesn't seem to hold up against evidence.

raphman 7y ago

see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon

new2628 7y ago

Another observation: back in the day every streetlight was surrounded by clouds of insects and butterflies swarming around them. Nowadays I see hardly any insects in the evening. It may have to do with the change in lightbulb technology and emitted light profile as well though.

pvaldes 7y ago

I assume also that the same number of insects divided by an increase in number of cars x10000 would also decrease the probability of an insect crashing against a particular car. And cars are much more aerodynamic now, that also helps

atlantacrackers 7y ago

Drive around the Deep South/Gulf Coast region when the lovebugs are out...It seems like you kill thousands per hour.

jyounker 7y ago

As a motorcyclist I've also seen this effect clearly. The frequency with which I need to clean my visor dropped incredibly between the early 90's and the late 00's.

I_complete_me 7y ago

I have a very clear memory from the 70s of driving around the roads of rural Ireland on dark evenings with my Dad - a rural vet - and swarms of insects being attracted to the headlights of the car - long before they met their demise on the windscreen. There are no swarms now, though.