I tell a story about driving across Canada in the 1970s and one of my memories is the windshield wipers going all day and night in Northern Ontario because of the bugs. When I did the trip again around 2010 I made a big deal about having extra jugs of wiper fluid ready. Didn't turn them on once. Scarcely a bug to be seen.

[–] BurgerBaron@quokk.au 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

This combined with local drought for quite a few years now followed by more rain in a month than we typically got in a year caused an insect population explosion, locally. I've not seen so many insects in quite awhile.

It's still like a tenth of what I remember as a kid in the 90's :(

Haven't witnessed a locust swarm since like 2002.

...remembering the disgusting camper van grill cleaning job at every gas station 🤮 baked on insect guts and gibs.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago

Mosquitoes for sure but haven't seen any other bugs explode in population.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 6 points 2 days ago

One modification to a car we bought in 1990 was to put a window screen in front of the radiator, as it was far easier to remove it regularly and clean than try to not damage the clogged radiator fins. I haven't had to worry about such things for decades now in later cars. Hell, even seeing a bug strike now while driving is like catching a rare meteor, an event. But then it reminds me how bad it is. :(

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago

Same here. in the 80s our family trips through Alberta and Saskatchewan would result in the car's windshield and radiator being covered in various types of bugs; we kids would be fascinated by all the different types (though most were grasshoppers). No more. We've severely fucked up the biosphere when insects are diminishing like this.

[–] reluctant_squidd@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nothing to do with all the crop dusting I am sure

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Probably some, but most likely climate change is the main culprit.

[–] alsimoneau@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Light pollution is also really bad for insects