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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
[...] Because the crooning of the crickets has quietened in recent years and may be becoming a thing of the past. There is strong evidence that large numbers of crickets and grasshoppers (known, along with mantises, earwigs and cockroaches as the "Orthoptera") are declining across Europe. A 2017 review of European species showed that over 30% of the 1,000 European species were in decline while only 3% were increasing. As with many insects, we simply don't know what is happening to most of the rest.
The problem is that recent work has suggested that all insect species, including Orthoptera, are declining – the so-called "insect Armageddon."
A 2017 study found that the abundance of flying insects has plunged by 75% over the past 25 years. One member of the study team, Professor Dave Goulson of Sussex University, said at the time: "Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on Earth [but] there has been some kind of horrific decline."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @02:28PM (13 children)
it's doing it's job.
if a lack of insects is a problem, then the solution is simple.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:59PM (10 children)
Insecticides have been around far longer than 25 years. If it's insecticides, did they recently become less specific, more lethal, or more heavily used?
(Score: 5, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @05:47PM (2 children)
We asked a representative from Monsanto about your questions, and they responded "We're Bayer now. Wholesome, respected Bayer."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @05:37AM (1 child)
You're alluding to neonicotinoids. However, the study was done in Europe. Haven't neonics been banned in Europe since 2013?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @07:59AM
Correcting myself, they haven't been banned but they've been restricted.
(Score: 4, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday August 10 2018, @05:48PM (6 children)
I expect you'll be unsurprised to learn that Cheeto is loosening up regulations on the insecticides that cause Colony Collapse Disorder.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @05:59PM (5 children)
It really does seem like he is the Devil, if you go in for that sort of woo woo.
But seriously, how fucked can he make this country before we put the brakes on him?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @07:17PM
Just like St. Reagan before him, Trump! Trump! Trump! will be here for 6 more years.
:-(
(Score: 3, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday August 10 2018, @07:24PM (3 children)
Funny you should say that.
BEHOLD:
While a work in progress it's far enough along that you should be able to see where I'm going with it.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @10:43PM
Already read it, sorry to ruin your showmanship flair :P
I guess it just pairs well with the uneducated troglodytes who value money and profit over everything and have zero clue how fragile the ecosystem really is. Like the one old fart I talked to who likened CO2 emissions to dog poop on the lawn. "The grass dies just right around the poop, but everywhere else it is green!" Really? REALLY? and he dared call himself a scientist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @04:00AM (1 child)
Schizo here. My scariest encounter with another mentally ill person was in a clinic, where I met that Arab guy (same diagnosis as me), who at first seemed totally tranquil and chill. Until he started talking about the clinic he was in before. He was convinced one of the other patients, who'd apparently been nice to him in gifting him a watch and other stuff, was in fact out to get him... somehow sedude him into a numb acquiescence to then destroy his soul (or something along these lines, I forgot).
What I will never forget: When the Arab looked at me with dead eyes and told me he wants to go back to the other clinic and kill the guy. It ran shivers down my spine from just the tone of voice. I tried pointing out that by what he told me, the guy had been nothing but nice to him, so even if he did have ulterior motives, he never realized them and should not be judged by what he didn't do. Took me about 10 minutes to talk him down. But when the crazy faded from the Arab's eyes I seriously felt relieved. I think had he met the poor guy in a state like earlier, he'd actually have done it. Without even thinking twice. Not sure if I've saved someone's life, but I definitely saved my soul then for all the bad shit I've done in altered states.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday August 11 2018, @04:13AM
-u.
I do that too - it's something I do as a public service: wander around the worst parts of Portland around three in the morning, looking for all the crazies then bringing a little sunshine into their lives.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by acid andy on Friday August 10 2018, @06:50PM (1 child)
Let me help you out here. It is a problem. I think you're right about the insecticides. Neonicotinoids have been found to cause problems for bee populations.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @04:44AM
The paper lists a multiplicity of possible causes.