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I spent most of today in the garden (Suffolk) and was absolutely scared sh*tless by the lack of flying insects around. Not sure if has anything to do with being the day after a thunderstorm or not, but I noticed that not many of my tomatoes seem to have been fertilised so far.
This would be very worrying on a UK or worldwide level.
What are you all seeing?
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year?
My carnivorous plants have been catching quite a lot of flies, but I would agree overall with your view. Certainly less butterflies and not a single dragonfly, wasp or billywitch yet. Neighbours have reported seeing stag beetles and we normally have several in the garden each year, but none yet. Plenty of bumble bees, but then we have a proliferation of foxgloves this year that they love.
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 18:20 - Jun 20 with 973 views
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 17:55 - Jun 20 by Eireannach_gorm
Great to hear you have Red Squirrels. Pinemartin is why you have them. Red Squirrels being natives know the danger of Pinemartin's while Grey Squirrels who are non native, don't. Also the Grey Squirrels are bigger and slower.
Late to this thread, but there are plenty of bugs etc in my garden this year. Not excessive or anything, but no alarm bells ringing.
As per other comments, a few too many aphids though.
Should add that my garden is designed to attract as many bugs as possible, so there is stuff in bloom almost all year round, 2 ponds, bee hotels, small log piles etc etc.
I was born underwater, I dried out in the sun.
I started humping volcanoes baby, when I was too young.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 07:50 - Jun 21 by Dubtractor
Late to this thread, but there are plenty of bugs etc in my garden this year. Not excessive or anything, but no alarm bells ringing.
As per other comments, a few too many aphids though.
Should add that my garden is designed to attract as many bugs as possible, so there is stuff in bloom almost all year round, 2 ponds, bee hotels, small log piles etc etc.
I wonder if the increase in aphids is due to the lack of wasps that others on the thread have noticed?
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 07:50 - Jun 21 by Dubtractor
Late to this thread, but there are plenty of bugs etc in my garden this year. Not excessive or anything, but no alarm bells ringing.
As per other comments, a few too many aphids though.
Should add that my garden is designed to attract as many bugs as possible, so there is stuff in bloom almost all year round, 2 ponds, bee hotels, small log piles etc etc.
Doesn't the theme of too many aphids suggest a lack of aphid eaters?
Too many people not realising the use of wasps on that front as they do like an aphid or two and do their share of pollinating along with the harmless hoverfly.
I know you know. Just a reminder for any not realising.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 20:36 - Jun 19 by Gogs
Blackfly are rife, which suggests probably fewer ladybirds and other beetles which feed on them
Haven't seen too many ladybirds and even the honey bee have been sparse ( plenty of bumble bees ). Unfortunately my swallows don't harvest the greenfly or blackfly.
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 19:01 - Aug 8 with 457 views
I have seen a lot of butterflies and moths in the South East, including some rarer ones like the hummingbird hawkmoth and black peacock butterflies. Likewise I have seen a lot of bees of different varieties. I live close to a meadow and have a lot of plants that they like so not too surprising.
I have also had a lot of lily beetles, but considerably less black beetles than last year.
Grasshoppers and crickets are normally abundant where I live but I have yet to really see more than one or two. The same goes for shield bugs (not entirely sure that's what they are but that's my best guess). Usually I have loads, although they are more of an August thing for me so maybe that will improve.
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