The long-term decline in the number of flying insects being splattered on cars after a journey is well recognised by older drivers. But the latest survey has revealed that the number of insects found on vehicle number plates has plummeted by 63% since 2021.
An analysis of records from more than 25,000 journeys across Britain since 2021 reveals an alarming apparent drop in flying insect abundance, although the rate of decrease slowed in 2024.
Bug splats on the numberplates of citizen scientists using the Bugs Matter app for the Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife survey declined 8% from 2023 to 2024, after sharper drops of 44% in 2023 and 28% in 2022.
Windshield phenomenon
The windshield phenomenon (or windscreen phenomenon) is the observation that fewer dead insects accumulate on the windshields and front bumpers of people’s cars since the early 2000s. It has been attributed to a global decrease of insect populations caused by human activity, e.g. use of pesticides.
Apparently the Kent Wildlife Trust found the opposite to be true:
The research also found that modern cars, with a more aerodynamic body shape, killed more insects than boxier vintage cars.
I noticed last year in-particular there was a very sharp drop-off. Normally a variety of flying insects invade my personal space in the evenings - it was always a tough call… a room too hot to sleep in, or a room full of hornets; you’d be surprised how often the hornets won.
There was even a time not so long ago where we used to get “waves” of certain flying insects each year, presumably one species won the Insect Sex Games each year, and were crowned champions with wave after wave of children… ladybirds, daddy longlegs, etc. Thousands everywhere! I think the last one of these was a long time ago now, perhaps nearly a decade.
Presumably this is devastating for bird and bat populations… hopefully they don’t start invading my personal space in response.
Yeah this is awful. I even notice the lack of insects when simply walking outside.
I’m currently in the process of putting flowers in my yard for the sake of the bees.
If you like bumblebees, get lots of plants in the borage family, they go made for them! Aromatic/culinary herbs are also great.
In Alberta I used to have to wash bug guts off my windshield pretty often. Every gas station stop for sure, sometimes more.
That was decades ago. Now it’s pretty rare I hit any bugs…at all.
Last year was an absolute wash out, so wet and grey for so long. It’ll probably be worse again at next year’s count. Hopefully the warm dry weather atm will help a little.
