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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?
Seen very few widgies this year. Like two. More bees than I remember but still low compared to what I remember as a kid. Last year we had 3-4 stag beetle sightings but none this year.
I have s small area of wildflowers in the garden, specifically to attract pollinators. I commented to someone the other day that they just weren't here this summer!
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 21:06 - Jun 19 with 2406 views
Thanks for the replies. I'd go along with the comments on there being plenty of fruit fly type thingies around the compost, and I've had a few greenfly as well. Also reasonable numbers of various types of bumble bee on clover, and a few honey bees. But what really struck me today was the almost total lack of butterflies, dragonflies, wasps ( I haven't seen single one all year) and other medium to large sized flying insects. I find it really worrying.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 21:34 - Jun 19 by NthQldITFC
Thanks for the replies. I'd go along with the comments on there being plenty of fruit fly type thingies around the compost, and I've had a few greenfly as well. Also reasonable numbers of various types of bumble bee on clover, and a few honey bees. But what really struck me today was the almost total lack of butterflies, dragonflies, wasps ( I haven't seen single one all year) and other medium to large sized flying insects. I find it really worrying.
Bumblebees are pretty plentiful here too. More than anything else (except the bloody fruit flies). I think we’ve had a fruit fly hatch today - the house is full of the little blighters tonight (we’ve had the windows open). I’ve not seen the like since we had a lady bird swarm in the states in 2017.
Yes to pests like white fly, black fly, but certainly worryingly fewer bees.
I have an abundance of herbs which I always allow to go to flower, plenty of lobelia scattered about and lavender in pots to try to entice them. I'm getting a few but not the numbers I would expect normally.
Bit early for butterflies/moths. Seeing the odd wasp, a few hoverflies.
Also getting things like crane flies as usual.
I try not to hurt most things and encourage what I can, except for houseflies which are fair game when they venture indoors. And mosquitoes of course.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 21:52 - Jun 19 by jeera
Yes to pests like white fly, black fly, but certainly worryingly fewer bees.
I have an abundance of herbs which I always allow to go to flower, plenty of lobelia scattered about and lavender in pots to try to entice them. I'm getting a few but not the numbers I would expect normally.
Bit early for butterflies/moths. Seeing the odd wasp, a few hoverflies.
Also getting things like crane flies as usual.
I try not to hurt most things and encourage what I can, except for houseflies which are fair game when they venture indoors. And mosquitoes of course.
[Post edited 19 Jun 2022 22:01]
Yeah, it’s best to encourage most and then target destroy the pests like mosquitoes and budgies
I've had alot of bees in the garden. Got lots of foxgloves that they love. Also had alot of dragon flies. I can't say I've thought anything is down on previous years. But I do back onto conservation land so maybe I'm a bit luckier with the wildlife.
I thought today how many more wild flowers there are now in the hedgerows which is good and you'd think may help with insect life in general.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 22:04 - Jun 19 by nodge_blue
I've had alot of bees in the garden. Got lots of foxgloves that they love. Also had alot of dragon flies. I can't say I've thought anything is down on previous years. But I do back onto conservation land so maybe I'm a bit luckier with the wildlife.
I thought today how many more wild flowers there are now in the hedgerows which is good and you'd think may help with insect life in general.
As you say location is of course everything.
I was living opposite a beautiful meadow here until a mini housing estate sprung up on there recently.
Yes I know we need housing and I get the whole NIMBYism thing, but it was soul-destroying to see it built over. There were owls and kestrels hunting there daily and stunning butterflies and so many bees...
The impact on the wildlife in the immediate vicinity is pretty obvious.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 22:09 - Jun 19 by jeera
As you say location is of course everything.
I was living opposite a beautiful meadow here until a mini housing estate sprung up on there recently.
Yes I know we need housing and I get the whole NIMBYism thing, but it was soul-destroying to see it built over. There were owls and kestrels hunting there daily and stunning butterflies and so many bees...
The impact on the wildlife in the immediate vicinity is pretty obvious.
We’ve concreted over enough to build houses and there’s plenty empty, at this point any wild areas should be protected for the sake of survival (our survival included).
My garden flowers have struggled this year with weather, same as last year which was a late bloom. I’ve heard many say this has been a trend in the last 5 years.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 05:59 - Jun 20 by monytowbray
We’ve concreted over enough to build houses and there’s plenty empty, at this point any wild areas should be protected for the sake of survival (our survival included).
My garden flowers have struggled this year with weather, same as last year which was a late bloom. I’ve heard many say this has been a trend in the last 5 years.
Agree on each count.
We're seeing badgers walking down our lane of a night. In the middle of the road. Also fallow deer, muntjacs...
But where we had hedgehogs coming in nightly they've disappeared.
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 21:34 - Jun 19 by NthQldITFC
Thanks for the replies. I'd go along with the comments on there being plenty of fruit fly type thingies around the compost, and I've had a few greenfly as well. Also reasonable numbers of various types of bumble bee on clover, and a few honey bees. But what really struck me today was the almost total lack of butterflies, dragonflies, wasps ( I haven't seen single one all year) and other medium to large sized flying insects. I find it really worrying.
Wasps deserve to die though.
On a serious note I have loads of flowers and pollinators in my back garden and haven’t particularly noticed fewer insects than usual.
In the spirit of reconciliation and happiness at the end of the Banter Era (RIP) and as a result of promotion I have cleared out my ignore list. Look forwards to reading your posts!
Sprays, pesticides and poisons are sadly too widely available in shops and garden centres. We all need to learn to live with, and cherish, insects rather than obliterate them. Also, grow some wildflowers and make space for nature rather that concrete over the garden or cover it in plastic grass.
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 09:45 - Jun 20 with 1824 views
I've noticed a lot more dead bees on pavements etc this year. I don't know if that's because there's more bees, or if it's because there are just more dead ones.
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 09:49 - Jun 20 with 1813 views
I have not noticed fewer insects this year, however out on the West Coast of Scotland with hardly any arable farming but a lot of grazing land and forestry that is not so surprising. It's still 1992 here:
Bees are Goode, Bees are Goode, its Beeserkneeser Goode...
If you had asked the question in March 2019 I might have been motivated to start some type of record of how many of what type appeared at which point in the season though. As difficult as that first spring of lockdown was I still enjoyed it for the way that nature seemed to revive. 2021 was different as the visitor numbers were so high, it seemed even more intrusive than pre-pandemic. Then this year has been affected by a winter that has had little respite from high winds and lashing rain, even the last week has seen conditions approaching gale force. Despite all that, and the conditions masked air temperatures that were a little higher than normal, the midges started to rise about three weeks earlier - but they are not really biting yet, which is three weeks late...or I am getting immune to them after nine years.
I'm eaten alive by midges every evening, there is definitely no shortage of them. Got plenty of wasps and bees, can hear incredible buzzing coming from the top of a sycamore tree. I know they don't fly but am plagued by feckin slugs at the moment. I see red squirrels a few times a week, a pinemartin every now an then.Also had foxes with cubs(an incredible sight)a few weeks ago but they seem to have moved on now.I have a few acres of land that used to be a sheep field that I have let go into an incredible wild meadow. This morning one of my local farmers asked if he could cut it for hay(I guess), I declined his invitation
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 10:29 - Jun 20 with 1737 views
I work in several different gardens. Observations so far. First sign of butterflies last week, wait until the Buddliea’s begin flowering profusely for an abundance of these, also pesky cabbage whites on the brassicas. Lots of hover flies, bumblebees etc on flowering plants at present. Honey bees not so many but certainly not significantly less either. Fruit trees are looking good for a decent crop which would suggest insect pollination on a par with previous years though a lack of late frost was beneficial also. Abundance of birds in the garden at present, I do have a couple of feeders, but that is a good sign that plenty of natural food is still available. Must add for balance that my own garden and the majority of clients live rurally or on the edge of towns but I’m optimistic that with more re wilding and awareness that things to me at least are fairly stable at present. Thunder bugs are a pain in the arse today though. Hi
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 17:55 - Jun 20 with 1497 views
If you are a UK gardener, how would you assess flying insect numbers this year? on 10:05 - Jun 20 by leitrimblue
I'm eaten alive by midges every evening, there is definitely no shortage of them. Got plenty of wasps and bees, can hear incredible buzzing coming from the top of a sycamore tree. I know they don't fly but am plagued by feckin slugs at the moment. I see red squirrels a few times a week, a pinemartin every now an then.Also had foxes with cubs(an incredible sight)a few weeks ago but they seem to have moved on now.I have a few acres of land that used to be a sheep field that I have let go into an incredible wild meadow. This morning one of my local farmers asked if he could cut it for hay(I guess), I declined his invitation
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.
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