3 ms·
For insects, there are a lot of different traps based on the nature of the insects being sought. There's a pretty good list here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wik
by Natsu 6y ago
For insects, there are a lot of different traps based on the nature of the insects being sought. There's a pretty good list here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_trap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_trap
As I understand the sampling, you pretty much just put the traps out and count up how many insects you get of each type.
Purely anecdotally, I feel like the number of butterflies is way down from the level you'd see during, say, the 90s. It seems like I just don't see as many different types any more and even the more common types feel vastly reduced in number. I used to see monarchs and sulfers and painted ladies and red admirals and cabbage butterflies all the time, now I barely see a few cabbage butterflies or sulfers and occasionally a painted lady or two. I never get to see the less common things like buckeyes any more, which is a pity given that they're my favorite.
- 9nGQluzmnq3M 6y agoThis is anecdotal, but during Singapore's lockdown, one of the many services cut for about two months was curb maintenance. Being deep in the tropics, all green spaces immediately turned into jungles of flowers and weeds, and the butterfly population consequently exploded: https://mothership.sg/2020/06/grass-cutting-butterflies/ https://mothership.sg/2020/06/grass-cutting-butterflies/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52960623 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52960623 On the other hand, mosquito populations also increased and there were lots of people stuck at home as bait for them, contributing to Singapore's worst dengue outbreak in years: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/three-more-dengue-deaths-singapore-outbreak-worsens https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/three-more-dengue-deaths-s... So at least one lesson here is that, if given an opportunity to bounce back, many insect populations can and will.
- Natsu 6y agoWow, Singapore has some really pretty ones. I've always been partial to butterflies with eyespots.
- refurb 6y agoSingapore is also going through a particularly bad Dengue fever season, so there is a ton being done for mosquito control including spraying of insecticides. I have no idea how selective those insecticides are, but one could imagine an impact on other insects.
- CydeWeys 6y agoInsecticides in general are quite broad spectrum. You need to use different tactics entirely if you only want to target mosquitoes.
- joshvm 6y agoIn the UK there have been fairly successful movements to stop councils trimming verges, since it promotes wildflowers and insects. This was pre-covid, but probably it's helped. You should check out Wilding by the serendipitously named Isabella Tree, if you've not already.