this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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Asklemmy

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[โ€“] Safipok@lemmy.ml 87 points 7 months ago (5 children)

Bugs hitting the front windshield in extraordinary numbers.

[โ€“] Makhno@lemmy.world 33 points 7 months ago

This is a sad one once you notice it. The outdoors feel emptier

[โ€“] BackOnMyBS@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago (2 children)
[โ€“] InputZero@lemmy.ml 38 points 7 months ago (2 children)

It's two things, one personal vehicles are designed to bend air around them rather than slice through or just brute force through air resistance. This means that more bugs are pushed out of the way with newer vehicles now, compared to older vehicles which just had the bug hit the windshield. The second and much more impactful reason is because the insect population has dropped significantly in the last 25 years.

[โ€“] BackOnMyBS@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago (4 children)

the insect population has dropped significantly in the last 25 years.

Why has that happened?

[โ€“] HurlingDurling@lemmy.world 21 points 7 months ago

Pesticides

Climate change

Less flowers

[โ€“] Rubisco 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)
[โ€“] P00P_L0LE@lemmy.ml 6 points 7 months ago

Accelerating climate change and an increase in consumer car culture (more cars on road to kill bugs = less bugs)

[โ€“] cqthca@reddthat.com 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

fluid dynamics simulated on computers helped air-bending, that's cool. i knew about the bees disappearing, but bugs in general too?

[โ€“] InputZero@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Unfortunately yes. This story by NPR isn't an academic source but it's definitely worth listening to. On average bug populations have declined by 2% a year for decades or more in some areas, less in others. It's an average.

Now truthfully, whether or not a declining bug population is the main cause of fewer bugs on our windshields or if it's better aerodynamics I don't know. What I do know is a more aerodynamic vehicle isn't something I need to worry about, a declining bug population is.

[โ€“] cqthca@reddthat.com 1 points 7 months ago

we need our bugs! although I was never convinced in that all insectizoid parasites are necessary, like any that affect Me, or Me-Kind

[โ€“] Pantherina@feddit.de 2 points 7 months ago

Bees are just cute. Its insects in general, and all are important. I mean insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are there for a reason.

Our soil is completely dead often, without animals, fungi and herbs. And so is the ecosystem

[โ€“] lemonuri@lemmy.ml 26 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We managed to kill off a third of the entire bug population during the last 25 years or so.

[โ€“] kratoz29@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Huh, I think they all flew to Mexico, I did a road trip from Mexico to Austin TX recently and I do recall having not many bugs in my windshield in the USA... But back home to Mexico they all started to appear LMAO.

[โ€“] Safipok@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago

More of a the natural habitat of insects are still thriving in Mexico and the habitat being wiped elsewhere.

[โ€“] JCPhoenix@beehaw.org 4 points 7 months ago

Fireflies/Lightning bugs. I remember there were so many in backyards in the summer, even in the suburbs.

Then they just kinda went away. Feel like I'm lucky if I even see a few a year.

[โ€“] frogmint@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Car design change? I'd assume that more aerodynamic cars airflow that sweeps more bugs away rather than smacking them into the glass. I can assure you that they still hit motorcycle visors.

[โ€“] Safipok@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago

I mean, I see way less bugs when outside even a decade ago.

[โ€“] hactar42@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

I just drove through Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas and confirmed there are still enough bugs out there to make you use a squeegee when you fill up for gas. But I remember when I was younger having to stop just to clean the windshield or else you wouldn't be able to see.