• JCPhoenix@beehaw.org
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      8 months ago

      Fireflies/Lightning bugs. I remember there were so many in backyards in the summer, even in the suburbs.

      Then they just kinda went away. Feel like I’m lucky if I even see a few a year.

      • InputZero@lemmy.ml
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        8 months ago

        It’s two things, one personal vehicles are designed to bend air around them rather than slice through or just brute force through air resistance. This means that more bugs are pushed out of the way with newer vehicles now, compared to older vehicles which just had the bug hit the windshield. The second and much more impactful reason is because the insect population has dropped significantly in the last 25 years.

        • BOMBS@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          the insect population has dropped significantly in the last 25 years.

          Why has that happened?

        • cqthca@reddthat.com
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          8 months ago

          fluid dynamics simulated on computers helped air-bending, that’s cool. i knew about the bees disappearing, but bugs in general too?

          • InputZero@lemmy.ml
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            8 months ago

            Unfortunately yes. This story by NPR isn’t an academic source but it’s definitely worth listening to. On average bug populations have declined by 2% a year for decades or more in some areas, less in others. It’s an average.

            Now truthfully, whether or not a declining bug population is the main cause of fewer bugs on our windshields or if it’s better aerodynamics I don’t know. What I do know is a more aerodynamic vehicle isn’t something I need to worry about, a declining bug population is.

            • cqthca@reddthat.com
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              8 months ago

              we need our bugs! although I was never convinced in that all insectizoid parasites are necessary, like any that affect Me, or Me-Kind

          • Pantherina@feddit.de
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            8 months ago

            Bees are just cute. Its insects in general, and all are important. I mean insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are there for a reason.

            Our soil is completely dead often, without animals, fungi and herbs. And so is the ecosystem

      • lemonuri@lemmy.ml
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        8 months ago

        We managed to kill off a third of the entire bug population during the last 25 years or so.

    • frogmint@beehaw.org
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      8 months ago

      Car design change? I’d assume that more aerodynamic cars airflow that sweeps more bugs away rather than smacking them into the glass. I can assure you that they still hit motorcycle visors.