Sad lament to an ever growing problem

[trehopr1]

Here we have the cover of the recent May issue of National Geographic magazine.

A sad lament of all of the continued ongoing losses and ecological destruction via our expansionist ways...

[exoticimports]

Well, I'm glad this one's not a butterfly collector hit piece like much of the recent NatGeo articles! I quit my subscription because of the recurring ignorant biases.

Encroachment, such as urban sprawl, definitely has a localized impact. But many areas not subject to such encroachment, or roads, or etc are demonstrating the same drastic reduction in insect species.

The anecdotal stories in the article reflect my own observations. However (note to citizen scientists) my records are largely in my head, thus effectively useless. I did keep a log book of moths attracted to the UV/ MV lights, but quit when my studies focused overseas. And, my reference collection may (indeed does) demonstrate loss of habitat- but it just as much reflects my thought that I had enough specimens of a species, as well, again, of a re-focus on tropical discoveries.

NatGeo is not a scientific publication, it's a flash piece for the masses. That's OK, we need to keep the public somewhat informed. Yet, I find this article, like many, to include shock material that the more trained eye will catch, and may be used to discredit the point of the article. For example, the two side-by-side 1.5Liter jars full of specimens collected in Malaise traps 20 years apart. One is chock full, one is 9/10 empty. Oh the horror! Yet, the full one is all Vespidae, while the empty one is moths; more than likely the full one, purportedly representative of a healthy insect population, was placed adjacent to a yellowjacket nest. It's this type of hype that frustrates me with NatGeo.

But what IS the problem? NatGeo seems to be more skeptical than we here concerning pesticides. Somebody better figure it out, and fast. I go back to the amazing sleuthing to discover the 1970s loss of falcons due to DDT- an incredible "who dunnit" story. Who knows what it could be.

I'm not buying global warming, not at this scale; many species range across multiple zones and massive geographic areas, and many are readily able to exploit a warmer and thus expanding range (e.g., perhaps P cresphontes expansion northward.) Maybe it's ethanol fuel, maybe it's solar radiation. I have NO idea, not that I can in the least demonstrate.

But I hope serious minds are working on it, or we have a big problem.

Chuck

[trehopr1]

Thank you exoticimports for your reply. I'm happy somebody gave their thoughts to the subject. Bravo, for that keen observation regarding the jar comparison. I know that I did not look that closely to notice that detail. However, in general I am glad to see that NatGeo at least "brings to light" scientific topics of ongoing concern by the scientific community. As you stated it is OK to keep the public somewhat informed.

As to any sensationalism or "shock material"; well that can be found in almost any article in any magazine you are likely to pick up. If there was not something there (visual) to captivate your interest in the first place then you would likely move on...

I have not subscribed to NatGeo myself since 1994 but, I still make it a point to see the monthly offerings of the magazine at the magazine stands in stores. I'm still a traditional reader of things rather than fixate on my "hand-held computer with the phone app" for all relevant worldly information.

That being said, I buy the magazine when Insect articles are offered. I still enjoy learning something new about any ongoing research, problems, or concerns regarding my favorite subject. It would be nice to see a few more produced a little more often...

It is nice at least that periodically NatGeo does come out with something still informative for the masses; because, without their input I don't think you would ever hear much of anything from any other magazine offerings.

[exoticimports]

Jul 22, 2020 20:01:01 GMT skandinavisk said:

"But I hope serious minds are working on it, or we have a big problem."

 Could scientists be a solution?    Maybe we should have some of those?

Jan

Anything useful to contribute or should we call a Trolljager? Never mind, I’ll just block you on this site as well.

Chuck

[nomihoudai]

Jul 21, 2020 18:50:22 GMT exoticimports said:

I'm not buying global warming, not at this scale; many species range across multiple zones and massive geographic areas, and many are readily able to exploit a warmer and thus expanding range (e.g., perhaps P cresphontes expansion northward.) Maybe it's ethanol fuel, maybe it's solar radiation. I have NO idea, not that I can in the least demonstrate.

I quickly wanted to comment on this. First, I do not know what they wrote about the effects of global warming in the article as I do not buy any magazines.

Anyway, the effects of global warming in species distributions can be seen. The only work I published in Lepidoptera was the first occurrence of Agrotis puta in my country of origin (Luxembourg, central Europe). It has two eco-types, one of which is heat loving and of Mediterranean origin. Furthermore, in the 00's we started to see Brenthis daphne which is of Mediterranean origin and was expanding through the Rhine valley to Luxembourg. The other species of Rhopalocera which we started to discover starting in the 10's was Everes argiades, another species that comes from drier and hotter areas. Macdunnoughia confusa is a Plusiinae that was a regular visitor at my light traps, I read that 100 years ago it wouldn't exist north of the Alps.

But there is two things to a species, distribution and total numbers. And I say that Chuck is right with his doubts on the effects of global warming on total numbers, because as he stated species are able to expand their ranges, and as the observations show, those that can, do.

Monocultures, and cars will be the ones to blame. From a species' viewpoint our agricultural fields are impassable wastelands void of food sources and adequate shelter. Nature can only thrive with a network of various species, and this can only be done in undisturbed places. The other thing is that a network of roads is spanning large parts of the globe and cars are extremely good at smashing small insects. I have a small park nearby which is somewhat undisturbed (saw many snakes there and a bobcat) which has a walking trail. On the walking trail you would see piles of smashed bugs that have been trampled on or run over by bikes. A species can only survive in that area if their reproduction rate is larger than the losses incurred on that trail (unfortunately many species like to sun bask and gather on the trail).

I also do wonder about the effects of micro pollutants and chemicals on the fertility rate of some insects. But, we will never know as the general public will not fund or care about such a study. Furthermore, the quantities at play are difficult to assess and measure. So the study will not be conclusive.

I am a professional scientist and sufficiently trained in math if that eases the startled minds of some readers.

[exoticimports]

There is a proper word for interruptions such as roads, darned if I can remember it now. This HAS been studied and shown to impact habits of SOME species.

But that doesn’t come close to explaining the marked drop across thousands of species. Nor does the monoculture of corn in Nebraska explain the drop in deep Amazonia.

Pesticides can travel, indeed COULD travel thousands of miles. It’s the only thing I can think of. If not that, something we are pumping into the air?

Chuck

[nomad]

When you trash your own world what do you expect, global humanity increases at a frighting rate. Yes it was scientists who first discovered this big problem in Europe in Germany with a massive decline in insects, it was already well known by the time it appeared on the National Geo cover.  Look what they are doing to Amazonia, New Guinea and all those once so called remote countries with a loss of all the virgin rainforest. Everything wlll continue to decline in the natural world except man and those species, often pests which thrive alongside man, with continuing mass extinctions.

[nomihoudai]

Jul 24, 2020 0:21:01 GMT exoticimports said:

This HAS been studied

The main thing I have learned this year is how bad people are at making and reading statistics.

When it has been studied the question is when, where, and how.

What I want to say, if the study is from the 1970s, you can most likely trash it as the authors wouldn't even have been able to imagine the current state of the global world with its number of inhabitants and the amount of cars going around.

[yorky]

Capitalism and a thriving natural world cannot coexist on the same planet,monetary gain will continue to be pursued at an ever increasing rate until there is very little left.

[trehopr1]

Well fellas, something is certainly going on out there on a worldwide basis (perhaps for several key reasons)... Those german chaps only helped us to realize years ago that our world is changing and has changed already (from previous decades).

Today, as just an example I went to one of my favorite haunts pictured below.



There is a tremendous expanse of field present here within "eyeshot" of this old farm. I was there today... Everything was lush, green , and vibrant while wildflowers of many kinds abounded. I did get there later in the day admittedly at 6:30pm but, the sun is setting at 8:30pm so it was still sunny, a little humid, 84 degrees F., and yet still next to nothing in terms of Lepidoptera !

I spied a few tired ole' Monarch's flying about the field (nothing fresh); and glimpsed 3 Common Sulphur's (Colias philodice) on the wing as well. No skippers, no nymphalids, no swallowtails, no satyrines. Oh' yes, a couple of small lycaenidae in passing... What gives !!

Here I am at mid-summer; sunny and 84 deg. F.  with a blossoming field of wildflowers and other assorted plants and little to bother collecting (or if needed) chasing. This is pathetic. I will try elsewhere again tomorrow...

I am sure others of you have likewise encountered this as well in your regions.

Seemingly, idyllic and yet strangely depauperate...