Also plant lots of insect attracting plants such as lavender, digitalis etc.
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Lack of insects in gardens
- Thread starter Onoma1
- Start date
Paraguay, you mention Asia Hornets, I was allocated a hornet trap in March.
A gentleman knocked on my door and asked if I could monitor a hornet trap for 8 weeks
Unfortunately I gave it up after two weeks as the trap was killing to much in the way of bycatch!
The trap works like a crab pot with some small escape holes to allow smaller insects a way to get out.
However, even though I was checking the trap 3-4 times a day it was still killing lots of innocent creatures.
The most vulnerable seemed to be moths trapped over night but it also trapped bumble bees, wasp, big flys and a whole myriad of unidentified flying insects!
I contacted the organisation to ask for advice only to be told I had two choices … one, monitor the trap more regularly or two, give it up.
I figured I was more likely to be checking my trap more regularly than the majority that were in operation and these traps simply catch to many innocent victims!
So I gave it back.
The thing is, the Asian hornet is a menace in all the channel islands, with the right wind they travel from France in large numbers. The traps do work and dozens are caught in them but at what expense to the other insect life?
Hopefully a better design trap can be produced, it seems the trapped insects can only survive an hour or so inside the trap and basically beat themselves to death trying to escape!
A gentleman knocked on my door and asked if I could monitor a hornet trap for 8 weeks
Unfortunately I gave it up after two weeks as the trap was killing to much in the way of bycatch!
The trap works like a crab pot with some small escape holes to allow smaller insects a way to get out.
However, even though I was checking the trap 3-4 times a day it was still killing lots of innocent creatures.
The most vulnerable seemed to be moths trapped over night but it also trapped bumble bees, wasp, big flys and a whole myriad of unidentified flying insects!
I contacted the organisation to ask for advice only to be told I had two choices … one, monitor the trap more regularly or two, give it up.
I figured I was more likely to be checking my trap more regularly than the majority that were in operation and these traps simply catch to many innocent victims!
So I gave it back.
The thing is, the Asian hornet is a menace in all the channel islands, with the right wind they travel from France in large numbers. The traps do work and dozens are caught in them but at what expense to the other insect life?
Hopefully a better design trap can be produced, it seems the trapped insects can only survive an hour or so inside the trap and basically beat themselves to death trying to escape!
PARAGUAY
Member
What a dilemma and let's hope they come up with something soon, l worry about native Crayfish they are predated by the "introduced" European sp. and l haven't read much about how this is can be reversed
Aqua sobriquet
Member
People want cheap food and investors want big payouts so I can’t see much changing.
There are companies that have interests in the chemical industry including pesticides, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. If you get cancer or dementia or any other disease from consuming pesticides don’t worry, they’ve got you covered with medication to slow your demise - at a price.
Before you buy any food in the supermarket, check the ingredients on the label. You might be surprised at the number of chemicals and bulking agents that are included.
There are companies that have interests in the chemical industry including pesticides, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. If you get cancer or dementia or any other disease from consuming pesticides don’t worry, they’ve got you covered with medication to slow your demise - at a price.
Before you buy any food in the supermarket, check the ingredients on the label. You might be surprised at the number of chemicals and bulking agents that are included.
Aqua sobriquet
Member
A quick example if I may. From a well known supermarket.
Pork Sausages.
“Our sausages are made for us by a family run business who've taken pride in making sausages for more than 200 years. ”
No wonder Pandas are endangered, we’re eating their food!
Pork Sausages.
“Our sausages are made for us by a family run business who've taken pride in making sausages for more than 200 years. ”
No wonder Pandas are endangered, we’re eating their food!
It is the same where I work, which is a Site of Importance for Nature and UNESCO award-winning for its biodiverse gardens and environmental education. We still have a wide range of insects, but like... a much smaller volume compared to usual. I grew up going to the same garden and as a child is was amazing how buzzing it was with life and how full of insects it was, the past few years there has still been some but not the same, and this year very very spare.
There is the June gap for butterflies inbetween generations so hopefully in July we see more, but far less bees, wasps, hoverflies, beetles, etc. We have a big pollinator garden, lots of habitat and water for them but clearly the extreme weather of climate change, pollution of our waters and land and pesticides are having their disasterous effect.
Cilmate change now particularly causes insects to hibernate late and emerge early when there is not enough food around, so if everyone can focus on growing flowering plants in their garden which flower all year round (as in, different flowering plant species for all different times of year), that can really help, along with replacing your lawn with wildflowers. Grow native bushes and trees which insects specifically rely on like disease-resistant elm, holly, etc. See some specific habitats and plants here. Don't cut down your dead plants and stems in autumn, wait until spring and provide piles of logs and twigs for hibernating habitat and food for grubs. Make compost in your back garden from your food and garden waste - wildlife loves compost heaps and it massively improves biodiversity and worms in the soil. Make bug hotels, install a pond/water source with shallow water access, and encourage your neighbours to garden the same to widen the habitat. If you're in an urban area there's less likely to be pesticide floating about, so even more important we give insects high quality habitat as a sanctuary from our dying countryside.
There is the June gap for butterflies inbetween generations so hopefully in July we see more, but far less bees, wasps, hoverflies, beetles, etc. We have a big pollinator garden, lots of habitat and water for them but clearly the extreme weather of climate change, pollution of our waters and land and pesticides are having their disasterous effect.
Cilmate change now particularly causes insects to hibernate late and emerge early when there is not enough food around, so if everyone can focus on growing flowering plants in their garden which flower all year round (as in, different flowering plant species for all different times of year), that can really help, along with replacing your lawn with wildflowers. Grow native bushes and trees which insects specifically rely on like disease-resistant elm, holly, etc. See some specific habitats and plants here. Don't cut down your dead plants and stems in autumn, wait until spring and provide piles of logs and twigs for hibernating habitat and food for grubs. Make compost in your back garden from your food and garden waste - wildlife loves compost heaps and it massively improves biodiversity and worms in the soil. Make bug hotels, install a pond/water source with shallow water access, and encourage your neighbours to garden the same to widen the habitat. If you're in an urban area there's less likely to be pesticide floating about, so even more important we give insects high quality habitat as a sanctuary from our dying countryside.
Aqua sobriquet
Member
We get severe inconvenience in my area sometimes when the Highways Agency or local council close lanes to butcher the greenery bordering the roads. Some councils have elected to grow wildflowers on borders. They say it’s for ecological reasons but I think they may require less maintenance, therefore saving money? Either way I’d sooner see wild flowers anyway.
There is a similar situation with sea fish, our surrounding seas around the British isles have been depleted to such an extent it is beyond shocking!
Not only fish but marine worms, shore crabs and rock pool inhabitance are all noticeable by their absence!
My question is … ‘who cares’ certainly in my location, no politicians seem remotely bothered, the local fishing fleet is virtually non existent and fishmongers are a thing of the past!
It seems to me most folk are happy to buy fish fingers or frozen battered fish from a supermarket but buying fresh local fish is not even an option for most people.
I grew up on a diet of fresh fish, not surprising living on a small island but 40 years ago we had 100 boats in our fishing fleet, now we have about 10 big boats and they are all crabbers.
The younger generation simply dont know anything about eating fresh fish, certainly not a staple part of most peoples diet nowadays.
Guernsey was once famous for its fish restaurants but unless you want to spend £30 for a fillet of fresh local fish then you will be offered farmed bass or bream, or even worse salmon or prawns ..
I can remember when fish was half the price of chicken now it is treble the price.
Not only fish but marine worms, shore crabs and rock pool inhabitance are all noticeable by their absence!
My question is … ‘who cares’ certainly in my location, no politicians seem remotely bothered, the local fishing fleet is virtually non existent and fishmongers are a thing of the past!
It seems to me most folk are happy to buy fish fingers or frozen battered fish from a supermarket but buying fresh local fish is not even an option for most people.
I grew up on a diet of fresh fish, not surprising living on a small island but 40 years ago we had 100 boats in our fishing fleet, now we have about 10 big boats and they are all crabbers.
The younger generation simply dont know anything about eating fresh fish, certainly not a staple part of most peoples diet nowadays.
Guernsey was once famous for its fish restaurants but unless you want to spend £30 for a fillet of fresh local fish then you will be offered farmed bass or bream, or even worse salmon or prawns ..
I can remember when fish was half the price of chicken now it is treble the price.
Aqua sobriquet
Member
The problem with the Sea is that we’ve been dumping tons of toxic waste in it for centuries. World War Two was a particularly bad time I suppose with all the shipping sunk. Then after the war some nations dumped unwanted munitions into the sea to get rid of them. I read just recently that a German U Boat carrying Mercury was sunk off the coast of Denmark I believe. There were thoughts of trying to recover the cargo but instead it’s just been covered with sand. Shellfish anyone?
Edit: It’s Norway.
nmf.no
Edit: It’s Norway.
Green Warriors of Norway: “Salvage the 67 tonnes mercury bomb now” | Norges Miljøvernforbund
German WWII sunken submarine U-864 contains 67 tonnes of pure metallic mercury. The load of merury allready has leaked 150-300 kg mercury into the marine environment, and the pollution goes on. Most of the pollution comes from contaminated sea bed from broken mercury canisters that fell out of...
nmf.no
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They definitely require less maintenance. I got sick of mowing our small front lawn when nobody would ever be using it, so hacked the grass back, scattered some wild flower seeds and a few bags of compost.
From this:
A year later . . .
All I’ll be doing is giving it a good strim at the end of the year, once a year.
simon_the_plant_nerd
Member
Looks beautiful.
Ok what about this then…. We found an Indian stick insect stuck to the house wall in January, it looked very sad for its self so I brought it inside and we kept it in a glass container until May when I released it back in the garden.
Last week I was just tending a few pot plants in the longe when I spotted three baby stick insects!
They have been wild in Guernsey for many years and are most definitely considered a pest!
Last week I was just tending a few pot plants in the longe when I spotted three baby stick insects!
They have been wild in Guernsey for many years and are most definitely considered a pest!
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greenbliss
Member
Don't!! Insects need a place to rest in the winter too!
Also I wonder if the mix contains perennials.
Have you heard of the National Vegetation classification? If you can look that up then find out what used to grow in your area you can buy the corresponding seed mix and have a slice of the past in the garden.
Seems like MG1 (Mesotrophic grassland 1) could fit if you are in Nottingham. There is even a rare species you could grow Silene nutans?
British NVC community MG1 - Wikipedia
That species isn't even found in Nottinghamshire but apparently there is a project to restore it.
I wonder if its also worth getting a sickle or using shears instead of strimming to be honest as strimming could shred toads
Personally I think using a sickle is very therapeutic, grabbing the bundles and just pulling back. Quite a lot smoother than strimming
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Onoma1
Member
An Austrian Scythe is the way to go. Faster than a strimmer and far more ecologically friendly.
Also... if your partner doesn't agree just mention Poldark .... Poldark and the resurgence of scything in Britain
Also... if your partner doesn't agree just mention Poldark .... Poldark and the resurgence of scything in Britain
greenbliss
Member
Yeah but is a scythe really necessary for such a small patch. Quite expensive too.
jaisol
Member
Umm
I remeber when(40 years) I had to use the windsceen wipers to clear the "bugs" , maybe we should warn our kids. I predict small cockroaches for the uk
Will take bets
Old and grumpy
I remeber when(40 years) I had to use the windsceen wipers to clear the "bugs" , maybe we should warn our kids. I predict small cockroaches for the uk
Will take bets
Old and grumpy
MichaelJ
Member
Insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate
The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble and the consequences could be dire.
Cheers,
Michael
greenbliss
Member
It might be rough. But I know there won't be a massive disaster. I think we will all come together in the nick of time to save all this. I just feel it.
greenbliss
Member
May I add another thing. I think with the wildflower meadows its worth making a flail on a stick to hit the hay with to knock the seeds out the pods but that might be a bit OCD. Just like threshing wheat in the old days.
