[NatureNS] re Scarcity of Insects

To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <20130814014913.JJBE11591.torspm02.toronto.rmgopenwave.com@your-8545fb4e07.ns.sympatico.ca>
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:15:43 -0300
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An interesting test of sorts for honeybees will occur in the  
Wolfville area soon, i.e., the copious populations of invasive  
Japanese knotweeds will be in bloom.  In recent years I have noticed  
that these flowers attrack honeybees in huge numbers, so let's keep  
watching and see what develops this year.

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca>
> Date: August 13, 2013 10:51:58 PM ADT
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Scarcity of Insects
> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>
>         I agree with others who have said that there is a scarcity  
> of butterflies and bees this year.  I have seen very few, either  
> here in the city or on my few outings this summer.  Two weeks ago I  
> spent an hour on a lovely Sunday morning at Mount Uniacke estate,  
> and saw no butterflies except for Whites, Sulphurs, and Common Wood  
> Nymphs.  Not a fritillary to be seen.  I recalled walking in the  
> same areas on field trips with Peter and Linda Payzant in former  
> years and seeing far more, and more varied, insects.
>
>         However, I have noticed good numbers of moths in the  
> evening in Bedford., including some of the larger ones.   I have  
> also seen healthy numbers of odonates at several of my usual  
> spots.  On Sunday I was in Point Pleasant Park, and observed an  
> abundance of various odes over the wetland on Pine Road. I  
> particularly noticed a lot of chalky-bodied skimmers, which I think  
> were Common Whitetails and reddish meadowhawks. (I realize I'm rusty!)
>
>         Patricia L. Chalmers
>         Halifax
>
>
>
> At 05:06 PM 12/08/2013, Jim Wolford wrote:
>
> AUG. 7, 2013 - I walked along the Wolfville Rail Trail this  
> afternoon, as I often do, and noted just a few butterflies (mostly  
> whites) flitting among the huge array of plants in flower,  
> especially Queen Anne's lace, common tansy, knapweed, etc., from  
> Wolfville Harbour but especially from Elm Street out to the Acadia  
> Arena.  BUT what really struck me was how very few other insects I  
> am noticing  on the flowers as I walk.  Thinking back a couple of  
> decades (or more?), I used to see a wide variety of insects and  
> spiders on the flowers, and now I am seeing few to none, plus the  
> few butterflies.  Has anyone noticed the same thing?  And does  
> anyone know of a database somewhere out there in our world of  
> information that has decades of data like we have for breeding birds?
>
> At 09:20 PM 13/08/2013, Nancy Dowd wrote:
>> One thing I have noticed is far fewer Odonates on the shores of L
>> Torment, Kings Co. I have been going there over 40 years and when I
>> was a kid I used to search along the rocks and gather all of the shed
>> nymphal skins I could find. And I found a lot. I still come across
>> remnants of my collection tucked into a drawer or matchbox to this
>> day.
>>
>> Now I rarely find any shed skins on the rocks.
>>
>> Others may have also noted changes in the always-popular and obvious
>> Dragonflies and Damselflies.
>>
>> Nancy
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 8:02 PM, Angus MacLean  
>> <cold_mac@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > Steve's "rant" & other comments center on the weather we have  
>> experienced
>> > this spring & fall. However:
>> >
>> > I have been photographing insects since 2005. I recall thinking  
>> during the
>> > first two years that this was a great hobby, insects wherever  
>> one looked so
>> > that some days I took 300-400 photos. Then numbers started  
>> declining.... so
>> > much so that in the past few years I consider it a good day to  
>> get 5-10
>> > useful photos (excluding honey bees which are numerous here in  
>> the Valley).
>> >
>> > I am certain that some people still find high insect populations  
>> in their
>> > area. For instance I have found that in northern Cape Breton,  
>> there are more
>> > insects & in particular, populations of Bumble Bees.
>> >
>> > We do have good comparative data re birds & the Butterfly Atlas  
>> will collect
>> > much useful data too, albeit somewhat late. There may be similar  
>> studies of
>> > other groups although the only specific study that comes to mind  
>> is that of
>> > Bumble Bees where data has been collected over a number of years  
>> (followed
>> > by disturbing analysis!). Are there others?
>> >
>> > As birders we sometimes thought how exciting it must have been  
>> to be birding
>> > in the forties through early fifties when populations were said  
>> to be
>> > abundant. I wish now I had started my "new" hobby a few years or  
>> perhaps
>> > decades earlier!
>> >
>> > Likely in 20 years from now, people will look at insect photos  
>> on the Net &
>> > think (similar to the Eskimo Curlew).."Gee, I wish I had seen  
>> that".
>> >
>> > Angus


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
An interesting test of sorts for honeybees will occur in the Wolfville =
area soon, i.e., the copious populations of invasive Japanese knotweeds =
will be in bloom. &nbsp;In recent years I have noticed that these =
flowers attrack honeybees in huge numbers, so let's keep watching and =
see what develops this year.<div><br></div><div>Cheers from Jim in =
Wolfville.<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">"P.L. Chalmers" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca">plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca</a>&=
gt;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">August 13, 2013 10:51:58 PM =
ADT</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>=
</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Re: [NatureNS] Scarcity of =
Insects</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Reply-To: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>=
</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div>  <font =
size=3D"3"><x-tab> =
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</x-tab>I agree with =
others who have said that there is a scarcity of butterflies and bees =
this year.&nbsp; I have seen very few, either here in the city or on my =
few outings this summer.&nbsp; Two weeks ago I spent an hour on a lovely =
Sunday morning at Mount Uniacke estate, and saw no butterflies except =
for Whites, Sulphurs, and Common Wood Nymphs.&nbsp; Not a fritillary to =
be seen.&nbsp; I recalled walking in the same areas on field trips with =
Peter and Linda Payzant in former years and seeing far more, and more =
varied, insects.<br><br> =
<x-tab>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</x-tab>However, =
I have noticed good numbers of moths in the evening in Bedford., =
including some of the larger ones.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have also seen healthy =
numbers of odonates at several of my usual spots.&nbsp; On Sunday I was =
in Point Pleasant Park, and observed an abundance of various odes over =
the wetland on Pine Road. I particularly noticed a lot of chalky-bodied =
skimmers, which I think were Common Whitetails and reddish meadowhawks. =
(I realize I'm rusty!)&nbsp; <br><br> =
<x-tab>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</x-tab>Patricia =
L. Chalmers<br> =
<x-tab>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</x-tab>Halifax<br>=
 <br> =
<x-tab>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</x-tab><br><br> =
At 05:06 PM 12/08/2013, Jim Wolford wrote:<br><br> </font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3"><b>AUG. 7, 2013 =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#001EE6">- I walked along the </font><font face=3D"Helvetica, =
Helvetica" size=3D"3"><b>Wolfville Rail Trail</b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#001EE6"> this =
afternoon, as I often do, and noted just </font><font face=3D"Helvetica, =
Helvetica" size=3D"3"><b>a few butterflies (mostly whites) =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#001EE6"> flitting among the </font><font face=3D"Helvetica, =
Helvetica" size=3D"3"><b>huge array of plants in flower</b>, =
especially<b> </b>Queen Anne's lace, common tansy, knapweed, etc., =
</font><font face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#001EE6"> =
from Wolfville Harbour but especially from Elm Street out to the Acadia =
Arena.&nbsp; BUT what really struck me was </font><font face=3D"Helvetica,=
 Helvetica" size=3D"3"><b>how very few other insects I am noticing&nbsp; =
on the flowers</b></font> <font face=3D"Helvetica, Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#001EE6"> as I walk.&nbsp; Thinking back a couple of decades =
(or more?), I used to see a wide variety of insects and spiders on the =
flowers, and now I am seeing few to none, plus the few =
butterflies.&nbsp; Has anyone noticed the same thing?&nbsp; And does =
anyone know of a database somewhere out there in our world of =
information that has decades of data like we have for breeding =
birds?<br><br> </font><font size=3D"3">At 09:20 PM 13/08/2013, Nancy =
Dowd wrote:<br> </font><blockquote type=3D"cite" class=3D"cite" =
cite=3D""><font size=3D"3">One thing I have noticed is far fewer =
Odonates on the shores of L<br> Torment, Kings Co. I have been going =
there over 40 years and when I<br> was a kid I used to search along the =
rocks and gather all of the shed<br> nymphal skins I could find. And I =
found a lot. I still come across<br> remnants of my collection tucked =
into a drawer or matchbox to this<br> day.<br><br> Now I rarely find any =
shed skins on the rocks.<br><br> Others may have also noted changes in =
the always-popular and obvious<br> Dragonflies and Damselflies.<br><br> =
Nancy<br><br> On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 8:02 PM, Angus MacLean &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:cold_mac@hotmail.com">cold_mac@hotmail.com</a>&gt; =
wrote:<br> &gt; Steve's "rant" &amp; other comments center on the =
weather we have experienced<br> &gt; this spring &amp; fall. =
However:<br> &gt;<br> &gt; I have been photographing insects since 2005. =
I recall thinking during the<br> &gt; first two years that this was a =
great hobby, insects wherever one looked so<br> &gt; that some days I =
took 300-400 photos. Then numbers started declining.... so<br> &gt; much =
so that in the past few years I consider it a good day to get 5-10<br> =
&gt; useful photos (excluding honey bees which are numerous here in the =
Valley).<br> &gt;<br> &gt; I am certain that some people still find high =
insect populations in their<br> &gt; area. For instance I have found =
that in northern Cape Breton, there are more<br> &gt; insects &amp; in =
particular, populations of Bumble Bees.<br> &gt;<br> &gt; We do have =
good comparative data re birds &amp; the Butterfly Atlas will =
collect<br> &gt; much useful data too, albeit somewhat late. There may =
be similar studies of<br> &gt; other groups although the only specific =
study that comes to mind is that of<br> &gt; Bumble Bees where data has =
been collected over a number of years (followed<br> &gt; by disturbing =
analysis!). Are there others?<br> &gt;<br> &gt; As birders we sometimes =
thought how exciting it must have been to be birding<br> &gt; in the =
forties through early fifties when populations were said to be<br> &gt; =
abundant. I wish now I had started my "new" hobby a few years or =
perhaps<br> &gt; decades earlier!<br> &gt;<br> &gt; Likely in 20 years =
from now, people will look at insect photos on the Net &amp;<br> &gt; =
think (similar to the Eskimo Curlew).."Gee, I wish I had seen that".<br> =
&gt;<br> &gt; Angus</font></blockquote> =
</blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=

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