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The first global scientific review of insect population decline was published[$] this week in the journal Biological Conservation. This is the first global study of its kind, and the term "impending catastrophe" would not be hyperbolic with respect to the findings:
Highlights
- Over 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction.
- Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and dung beetles (Coleoptera) are the taxa most affected.
- Four aquatic taxa are imperiled and have already lost a large proportion of species.
- Habitat loss by conversion to intensive agriculture is the main driver of the declines.
- Agro-chemical pollutants, invasive species and climate change are additional causes.
For some time now we've been warned by scientists that pollinators are having a hard time, creating problems for humanity WRT many food sources. However, this study paints a far more dire picture with the possibility of irreparable harm to ecosystems on a global level. Without strong insect populations, it's not unreasonable to conclude that humanity may not continue either.
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Mass Extinction of Insects Underway
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Smile! You're on Candid Camera.
(Score: 2, Funny) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday February 12 2019, @03:17PM (1 child)
You sound like my daughter. It's amazing, she buys almost all the food for her family. She's into the Organic Food, big time. And the Locally Grown. She goes to the Farmers' Market, she buys the Avocado. And the Banana. From the guys that grow them. And New York is amazing that way, it's a place where almost anything will grow beautifully.
Bug spray, give me a little bug spray. Now they don't want us to do the spray. You know you’re not allowed to use bug spray anymore because it affects the ozone, you know that, right? I said, you mean to tell me, because you know bug spray’s not like it used to be, it used to be real good. Today you put the bug spray on, it’s good for 12 minutes, right? So if I take bug spray and I spray it in my hotel, which is all sealed, you’re telling me that affects the ozone layer? "Yes," they tell us. I say no way, folks. No way. No way. That’s like a lot of the rules and regulations you people have in the mines, right? It’s the same kind of stuff.
Let me tell you, we spray very heavily. And we're going to keep spraying heavily. Because it works. Used to work a lot better and we want to get back to that one. Because there are still folks that check in, they stay the night. And when they check out they say, "oh, bedbugs, so horrible!" And they'll show you the bites. The so-called bites. Because they don't want to pay. They want a free night. In one of the world's most luxurious hotels. Crooked! And I wish the bedbugs would all die. Why don't they die? So those bedbug scammers will have to come up with a new scam!!
(Score: 4, Informative) by Snow on Tuesday February 12 2019, @09:05PM
As golf course owner, you should know all about the negative effects of bug spray!
I hope you aren't using it on your beautiful, beautiful greens!! [iastate.edu]-