ActionfigureJoe Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 A scientific review of insect numbers suggests that 40% of species are undergoing "dramatic rates of decline" around the world. The study says that bees, ants and beetles are disappearing eight times faster than mammals, birds or reptiles. But researchers say that some species, such as houseflies and cockroaches, are likely to boom. The general insect decline is being caused by intensive agriculture, pesticides and climate change. Valentine roach revenge for spurned lovers Mosquitoes 'put off biting' by diet drugs Edible insects: A BBC reporter's verdict Insects make up the majority of creatures that live on land, and provide key benefits to many other species, including humans. They provide food for birds, bats and small mammals; they pollinate around 75% of the crops in the world; they replenish soils and keep pest numbers in check. Many other studies in recent years have shown that individual species of insects, such as bees, have suffered huge declines, particularly in developed economies. But this new paper takes a broader look. Published in the journal Biological Conservation, it reviews 73 existing studies from around the world published over the past13 years. The researchers found that declines in almost all regions may lead to the extinction of 40% of insects over the next few decades. One-third of insect species are classed as Endangered. "The main factor is the loss of habitat, due to agricultural practices, urbanisation and deforestation," lead author Dr Francisco Sánchez-Bayo, from the University of Sydney, told BBC News. "Second is the increasing use of fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture worldwide and contamination with chemical pollutants of all kinds. Thirdly, we have biological factors, such as invasive species and pathogens; and fourthly, we have climate change, particularly in tropical areas where it is known to have a big impact." Getty Images Dung beetles are on the retreat according to the new review Some of the highlights of study include the recent, rapid decline of flying insects in Germany , and the massive drop in numbers in tropical forests in Puerto Rico, linked to rising global temperatures. Other experts say the findings are "gravely sobering". "It's not just about bees, or even about pollination and feeding ourselves - the declines also include dung beetles that recycle waste and insects like dragonflies that start life in rivers and ponds," said Matt Shardlow from UK campaigners Buglife. "It is becoming increasingly obvious our planet's ecology is breaking and there is a need for an intense and global effort to halt and reverse these dreadful trends. Allowing the slow eradication of insect life to continue is not a rational option." Pests on the rise The authors are concerned about the impact of insect decline up along the food chain. With many species of birds, reptiles and fish depending on insects as their main food source, it's likely that these species may also be wiped out as a result. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Cockroaches and houseflies may thrive while others decline, say experts While some of our most important insect species are in retreat, the review also finds that a small number of species are likely to be able to adapt to changing conditions and do well. "Fast-breeding pest insects will probably thrive because of the warmer conditions, because many of their natural enemies, which breed more slowly, will disappear, " said Prof Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex who was not involved in the review. "It's quite plausible that we might end up with plagues of small numbers of pest insects, but we will lose all the wonderful ones that we want, like bees and hoverflies and butterflies and dung beetles that do a great job of disposing of animal waste." Prof Goulson said that some tough, adaptable, generalist species - like houseflies and cockroaches - seem to be able to live comfortably in a human-made environment and have evolved resistance to pesticides. He added that while the overall message was alarming, there were things that people could do, such as making their gardens more insect friendly, not using pesticides and buying organic food. More research is also badly needed as 99% of the evidence for insect decline comes from Europe and North America with almost nothing from Africa or South America. Ultimately, if huge numbers of insects disappear, they will be replaced but it will take a long, long time. "If you look at what happened in the major extinctions of the past, they spawned massive adaptive radiations where the few species that made it through adapted and occupied all the available niches and evolved into new species," Prof Goulson told BBC News. "So give it a million years and I've no doubt there will be a whole diversity of new creatures that will have popped up to replace the ones wiped out in the 20th and 21st centuries. "Not much consolation for our children, I'm afraid." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 We have plagued of pests all the time. Have to spray the bugs. Even the bible talks about plagues of pests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted February 11, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) Read many species of insects will be cut in half or more by the extreme cold we've experienced this winter. Asian beetles is one as is emerald ash borer. I think some species of ticks can't survive as well. Edited February 11, 2019 by Highmark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, Highmark said: Read many species of insects will be cut in half or more by the extreme cold we've experienced this winter. Asian beetles is one as is emerald ash borer. I think some species of ticks can't survive as well. In the past cold temperatures kept those critters in line. Cold winters have now become a rarity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted February 11, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 11, 2019 Just now, ActionfigureJoe said: In the past cold temperatures kept those critters in line. Cold winters have now become a rarity. Maybe temps down to -30 but I've rode more rivers in the past 5 years than ever before and earlier as well. We've even crossed the main channel of the Mississippi by mid December a few times in the past 5 years. Last year was the first year we ever were able to ride up the Galena river into the historic town of Galena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 11 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said: In the past cold temperatures kept those critters in line. Cold winters have now become a rarity. One of our coldest winters on record was only a few years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticCrusher Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Cockroaches will survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 If they could just kill all of the mosquitos and ticks and leave everything else that would be cool. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted February 12, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 12, 2019 15 minutes ago, Anler said: If they could just kill all of the mosquitos and ticks and leave everything else that would be cool. Yessir....fucking ticks are a scourge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted February 12, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 12, 2019 I hate those bloodsucking cunts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted February 12, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 12, 2019 THis fall they were almost nonexistent thou. That was quite cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Anler said: If they could just kill all of the mosquitos and ticks and leave everything else that would be cool. Forest fires fix up ticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted February 12, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted February 12, 2019 The worst infestations of pests are typically started by the govt trying to do something of which they never look at long term consequences. Multiflora rose Asian beetles Kudzu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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