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As a factor it seems believable, as THE factor it seems more likely that there's a big funder looking for a strawman... Which industry does have an immense and

As a factor it seems believable, as THE factor it seems more likely that there's a big funder looking for a strawman... Which industry does have an immense and known responsibility for insect deaths? Maybe the industry producing insecticides that are hugely profitable but at risk of global bans? I'd not at all be surprised if this is an elaborate way to sow legal doubt on the anti-insecticide / organic agriculture efforts.

rob74 7y ago
Nowhere in the article do they claim that it's THE factor, just a key factor in combination with "habitat loss, chemical pollution, invasive species, and climate change" (3rd paragraph).
- galago 7y ago
  I think that's exactly how contemporary disinformation campaigns work. Say its almost totally pesticides, the win for them is muddling it into 'numerous causes.' There's so much money involved in some of these issues that stakeholders can spend millions (billions if you own fossil fuel reserves) just to move the needle slightly.
  - nodemaker 7y ago
    Yeah usually 80 percent of any problem is just one factor. In this case that's clearly pesticides and the discussion of more potential causes is a benefit to the producers.
  - nerdponx 7y ago
    This is exactly how it played out in the popular perception of climate change.
- shrimp_emoji 7y ago
  >“We strongly believe artificial light at night – in combination with habitat loss, chemical pollution, invasive species, and climate change – is driving insect declines,” the scientists concluded after assessing more than 150 studies. “We posit here that artificial light at night is another important – but often overlooked – bringer of the insect apocalypse.”
- trianglem 7y ago
  That’s how most of this nonsense works. You just have to sow doubt.
toss1 7y ago
Excellent point. A thought experiment (since we lack hard data) Step A) eliminate all neonicotinoid and systemic plant pesticides Step B) eliminate all light pollution What happens to insect populations with either step? I'd bet that A would do much more to restore the populations. Any other bets, or better yet, some hard data?
topmonk 7y ago
Exactly, remember the mystery of the disappearance of bees? And they finally found out (or rather. admitted) that it was pesticides that were responsible. Same thing here.

rob74 7y ago

Nowhere in the article do they claim that it's THE factor, just a key factor in combination with "habitat loss, chemical pollution, invasive species, and climate change" (3rd paragraph).

galago 7y ago
I think that's exactly how contemporary disinformation campaigns work. Say its almost totally pesticides, the win for them is muddling it into 'numerous causes.' There's so much money involved in some of these issues that stakeholders can spend millions (billions if you own fossil fuel reserves) just to move the needle slightly.
- nodemaker 7y ago
  Yeah usually 80 percent of any problem is just one factor. In this case that's clearly pesticides and the discussion of more potential causes is a benefit to the producers.
- nerdponx 7y ago
  This is exactly how it played out in the popular perception of climate change.
shrimp_emoji 7y ago
>“We strongly believe artificial light at night – in combination with habitat loss, chemical pollution, invasive species, and climate change – is driving insect declines,” the scientists concluded after assessing more than 150 studies. “We posit here that artificial light at night is another important – but often overlooked – bringer of the insect apocalypse.”
trianglem 7y ago
That’s how most of this nonsense works. You just have to sow doubt.

toss1 7y ago

Excellent point. A thought experiment (since we lack hard data) Step A) eliminate all neonicotinoid and systemic plant pesticides Step B) eliminate all light pollution What happens to insect populations with either step? I'd bet that A would do much more to restore the populations. Any other bets, or better yet, some hard data?

topmonk 7y ago

Exactly, remember the mystery of the disappearance of bees? And they finally found out (or rather. admitted) that it was pesticides that were responsible. Same thing here.