Citizen science survey shows 78 per cent decline in ‘bug splats’ on number plates

Citizen science survey shows 78 per cent decline in ‘bug splats’ on number plates

Archived version: https://archive.ph/N9Yal

  • @Obi
    59•25 days ago

    Didn’t need a study to notice this, the difference between when I was a kid and now is stark, used to be the car would be covered in them by the time we got to vacation, now it’s clean as a whistle.

    • @ristoril_zip@lemmy.zipEnglish
      48•25 days ago

      What’s really gonna suck is when people are like “holy shit why did they let us kill all the bugs if they were so important?!!”

      Personally my property (2 acres) is free of all pesticides and herbicides. I’m killing introduced species of plants (trees of heaven and privet) by hand mostly pulling them out of the ground.

      This year I might add Japanese honeysuckle to the target list.

      I mean we’re probably doomed to some sort of major collapse either way, but I’ll do what I can on the micro scale and vote for people who will fight for the right path on the macro (e.g. never Republican).

      PS - I do use poison bait inside for ants and cockroaches so not 100%. Only when they get noticable. Sorry.

      • @Avg@lemm.ee
        3•24 days ago

        If you are in the US or Europe, tree of heaven is an invasive species.

        • @ristoril_zip@lemmy.zipEnglish
          3•24 days ago

          Yep! But they’re a dickens to actually eradicate. I’m going to be hatcheting some gashes in a big one or two on my property in August or September so I can poison its roots with glyphosate when it starts getting ready for fall. I’ve learned the hard way that if you leave the roots healthy you’re making tons of future work for yourself.

          Privet is also a runner based plant and it’s also not from North America, but I’ve had more success looking it the old fashioned way.

          It’s really gratifying to watch native species rebound and move back into the places after the introduced/invasive plants have been removed.

          • @MoonMelon@lemmy.ml
            2•24 days ago

            I’ve been fighting tree of heaven for years, and I’ve had the most success with triclopyr ester mixed with oil. The product I use is called Pathfinder. Can’t use it close to water though. But I’ve been able to take a couple totally infested acres down to just the occasional seedling. No hacking required, which is nice, just soak the trunk around the base in late summer.