As a child in the 60's and 70's, I recall massive swarms of these around lights at night where I lived. Most people in the area also notice they have rarely seen the once common beetles in recent years also.
Is this just a local dramatic population decrease, or has something happened across their entire range? If so, any ideas what we did?
2007-11-20 16:12:26 · 2 answers · asked by Sp. Gr. 0.98 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I grew up in the 80's just outside Indianapolis, I have also noticed this, but not sure why. They use to always be on our screen that was by the light, but you're right, they are so less common these days. Seems like butterflys/caterpillars, grasshoppers, and katidids (green tree bugs) are rarely seen as well.
2007-11-20 16:46:49 · answer #1 · answered by emm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the life cycle of june bugs(Melolonthinae) requires 3 years to complete, they are much more susceptible to pesticides. The grubs of the june bugs do considerable damage to corn, small grains, potatoes and strawberries. The increase use of pesticides has probably had a great effect as has the increased acreage used in agriculture.
2007-11-21 03:59:02 · answer #2 · answered by paul 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋