Does drought affect insect population?

Larry Weinman · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

I live in Wisconsin and the state has been pretty much in a drought since early Summer. We have also experienced intense heat. It seems that there are not nearly as many insects around as in a year with more average temperatures. Yesterday I did a 200 mile trip to the northern part of the state and when I returned there was not one dead insect on my car. Last year at this time the same trip would have had the car covered with dead insects. On a recent trip to my favorite macro pond I only saw two dragonflies and one damsel. This pond is usually loaded with them. Is anyone else experiencing this?

b-rice · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Weinman

I live in Wisconsin and the state has been pretty much in a drought since early Summer. We have also experienced intense heat. It seems that there are not nearly as many insects around as in a year with more average temperatures. Yesterday I did a 200 mile trip to the northern part of the state and when I returned there was not one dead insect on my car. Last year at this time the same trip would have had the car covered with dead insects. On a recent trip to my favorite macro pond I only saw two dragonflies and one damsel. This pond is usually loaded with them. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Yeah, Ohio is dead right now too. Either they're all hiding, or nymphs and other young bugs didn't make it. I'm on vacation in NC, and bug life seems pretty sparse here too.

Idlefrog · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

Over here in the UK it has been exacty the opposite weather wise. we have had the wettest coldest summer I have ever experienced and I think it was officially the wettest June on record.

This seems to have had an adverse affect on insects here too, but not as bad as yours sounds.

It seems we are to get some warmer weather here in the next week or so as the jet stream is starting to moved further north to where it usually is. Hopefully this will mean you guys get some much needed rain.

psion2007 · 21st of July 2012 (Sat)

Arkansas is in the same situation, it is usually hot but until last week we also had little rainfall. If I did not have cone flowers, sage, butterfly bushes and bee balm in my back yard I would have only the spiders still around.

kdw75 · 22nd of July 2012 (Sun)

Here in the KC Missouri area it seems about the same. We have had lots of days in the mid 100s and very little rain. All the yards are brown and the bugs seem to be in hiding. It sure is nice to be able to walk around outside without bugs flying around. I haven't even seen as many spider webs.

Last Winter though was very warm and dry as well. We only had one or two dustings of snow. I am not sure if we had many if any days where the high wasn't above freezing.

Of course in the past million years I am sure stranger things have happened with the weather. I do really miss the thunderstorms though. I love taking pictures of lighting.

chrisa · 23rd of July 2012 (Mon)

I live in central Illinois and the drought has really taken hold on this part of the state. My yard is barren and some of my shrubs are dying. There are still a lot of flies and even more horseflies than normal. I went out to the lake yesterday and there were a lot more insects. A nice selection of dragonflies.

calypsob · 24th of July 2012 (Tue)

Alabama has been getting some good rain but I don't seem to see alot of the insects that I saw back in georgia, one state over, as a child. Im not sure why but I think it is because it has been so hot. The other day after it rained it got down to about 75 degrees and I couldnt believe the amount of insects that seemed to come out of hiding. One thing I would like to add is that a few years ago an new pesticide was introduced that almost completely wiped out the entire population of honey bees in the southeastern united states. Im not sure if this effected the development of other species which migrate across the united states.

b-rice · 24th of July 2012 (Tue)

Was just reading this today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/st...ugs/56442572/1

Seems there may be a surge soon! Haha

racketman · 28th of July 2012 (Sat)

Insects are very resilient, even a string of bad summers will not stop them bouncing back when conditions are right. Their potential reproductive rates are mind boggling, its fortunate they have predators!

19th of July 2012 (Thu)	#1
Larry Weinman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,109	Does drought affect insect population? I live in Wisconsin and the state has been pretty much in a drought since early Summer. We have also experienced intense heat. It seems that there are not nearly as many insects around as in a year with more average temperatures. Yesterday I did a 200 mile trip to the northern part of the state and when I returned there was not one dead insect on my car. Last year at this time the same trip would have had the car covered with dead insects. On a recent trip to my favorite macro pond I only saw two dragonflies and one damsel. This pond is usually loaded with them. Is anyone else experiencing this? __________________ 7D 50D 100mm f 2.8 macro 180mm f 3.5 macro, MP-E-65 300mm f 2.8 500mm f4 Tokina 10-17mm fisheye 10-22mm 17-55mm 24-105mm 70-300mm 70-200 f 2.8 Mk II 100-400mm 1.4 TC 2X TC 580EX 430 EX II MT 24 EX Last edited by Larry Weinman : 19th of July 2012 (Thu) at 08:10. Reason: spelling correction

19th of July 2012 (Thu)	#3
Idlefrog Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cheltenham, UK Posts: 683 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Over here in the UK it has been exacty the opposite weather wise. we have had the wettest coldest summer I have ever experienced and I think it was officially the wettest June on record. This seems to have had an adverse affect on insects here too, but not as bad as yours sounds. It seems we are to get some warmer weather here in the next week or so as the jet stream is starting to moved further north to where it usually is. Hopefully this will mean you guys get some much needed rain. __________________ Andrew Reynolds My Photos Canon 60D, EF 100mm F2.8 IS L Macro, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85mm, Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD

21st of July 2012 (Sat)	#4
psion2007 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 3	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Arkansas is in the same situation, it is usually hot but until last week we also had little rainfall. If I did not have cone flowers, sage, butterfly bushes and bee balm in my back yard I would have only the spiders still around.

22nd of July 2012 (Sun)	#5
kdw75 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: N.W. Missouri Posts: 145	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Here in the KC Missouri area it seems about the same. We have had lots of days in the mid 100s and very little rain. All the yards are brown and the bugs seem to be in hiding. It sure is nice to be able to walk around outside without bugs flying around. I haven't even seen as many spider webs. Last Winter though was very warm and dry as well. We only had one or two dustings of snow. I am not sure if we had many if any days where the high wasn't above freezing. Of course in the past million years I am sure stranger things have happened with the weather. I do really miss the thunderstorms though. I love taking pictures of lighting. __________________ Cameras: Canon EOS 7D \| Powershot SX10 is \| Powershot S30 Lenses: Canon 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM \| Canon 24mm f/2.8 \| Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L Accessories: Speedlite 430 EX II

23rd of July 2012 (Mon)	#6
chrisa Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Effingham, IL Posts: 682 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Does drought affect insect population? I live in central Illinois and the drought has really taken hold on this part of the state. My yard is barren and some of my shrubs are dying. There are still a lot of flies and even more horseflies than normal. I went out to the lake yesterday and there were a lot more insects. A nice selection of dragonflies. __________________ www.chrisandrewsphotography.com

24th of July 2012 (Tue)	#7
calypsob Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: auburn alabama Posts: 615	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Alabama has been getting some good rain but I don't seem to see alot of the insects that I saw back in georgia, one state over, as a child. Im not sure why but I think it is because it has been so hot. The other day after it rained it got down to about 75 degrees and I couldnt believe the amount of insects that seemed to come out of hiding. One thing I would like to add is that a few years ago an new pesticide was introduced that almost completely wiped out the entire population of honey bees in the southeastern united states. Im not sure if this effected the development of other species which migrate across the united states. __________________ Wes ----------- Gear: canon t3i / 600d, 18-55mm kit, tokina 11-16mm, reversed: pentax-A 28mm, sigma APO 70-300, Sigma UC 70-210mm, Carl Zeiss 8x30b

24th of July 2012 (Tue)	#8
b-rice Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Athens, Ohio Posts: 227 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Was just reading this today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/st...ugs/56442572/1 Seems there may be a surge soon! Haha __________________ I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today's existence. -Robert Mapplethorpe 5DII gripped \|Kodak Vest Lens\| 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L \| 100 USM f/2.8 macro \| 80-200 f/2.8L \| MP-E 65 f/2.8 1x-5x \| 50 f/1.8 II \| 28-135 f/3.5-5.6IS \| 17-40 f/4L \| 1.4x II tele Tumblr: http://bnihiserphoto.tumblr.com/

28th of July 2012 (Sat)	#9
racketman Cream of the Crop Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Richmond Surrey Posts: 18,463 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Does drought affect insect population? Insects are very resilient, even a string of bad summers will not stop them bouncing back when conditions are right. Their potential reproductive rates are mind boggling, its fortunate they have predators! __________________ Toby Flickr collections Gear

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