4 ms·

I’m not claiming your conclusion is incorrect, but predator-prey systems (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotka–Volterra_equations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L

I’m not claiming your conclusion is incorrect, but predator-prey systems (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotka–Volterra_equations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotka–Volterra_equations) can have long stretches of population decrease. A measured decrease, even a huge one lasting decades, need not be a a long term decline.

30944836 4y ago
Thank you for this. It is a reminder for me to think more long term than just my short life so far.
gibolt 4y ago
The main predator is likely cars in this case. Those numbers won't be decreasing, and bug numbers likely won't be bouncing back
- throwaway1777 4y ago
  I was under the impression the main predator was insecticides.
- Someone 4y ago
  This isn’t a simple two-species system. If insect population collapse were to cause a human population collapse, I think the number of cars (and wind turbines, and insecticides) would follow, possibly early enough to prevent full extinction of insects.
lukas099 4y ago
The point was that the population is declining, not that it is long term.
- Someone 4y ago
  The title of this article may make it seem so, but IMHO, it is incorrect, and the main message of the article is One in three firefly species in North America may be at risk of extinction, according to a study by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The title of that paper (https://xerces.org/press/firefly-species-at-risk https://xerces.org/press/firefly-species-at-risk) is “One in Three North American Firefly Species Assessed May Be at Risk of Extinction”, so I think that’s not a misinterpretation from my side.
strangattractor 4y ago
Grew up in Southeast Virginia in the 60's. Fireflies galore. June bugs also. Not anymore - haven't seen them in 40 years. Seems to me it coincided with aerial spraying for mosquitos in the area. There are still plenty of mosquitos however:)

30944836 4y ago

Thank you for this. It is a reminder for me to think more long term than just my short life so far.

gibolt 4y ago

The main predator is likely cars in this case. Those numbers won't be decreasing, and bug numbers likely won't be bouncing back

throwaway1777 4y ago
I was under the impression the main predator was insecticides.
Someone 4y ago
This isn’t a simple two-species system. If insect population collapse were to cause a human population collapse, I think the number of cars (and wind turbines, and insecticides) would follow, possibly early enough to prevent full extinction of insects.

lukas099 4y ago

The point was that the population is declining, not that it is long term.

Someone 4y ago
The title of this article may make it seem so, but IMHO, it is incorrect, and the main message of the article is One in three firefly species in North America may be at risk of extinction, according to a study by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The title of that paper (https://xerces.org/press/firefly-species-at-risk https://xerces.org/press/firefly-species-at-risk) is “One in Three North American Firefly Species Assessed May Be at Risk of Extinction”, so I think that’s not a misinterpretation from my side.

strangattractor 4y ago

Grew up in Southeast Virginia in the 60's. Fireflies galore. June bugs also. Not anymore - haven't seen them in 40 years. Seems to me it coincided with aerial spraying for mosquitos in the area. There are still plenty of mosquitos however:)