Annual data on insect populations is limited, but the indicators we have say yes, it has been a bad year. All year, stretching way back into the early spring, people have been contacting us about the relatively few butterflies around. British butterflies and moths are probably the best-studied insects in terms of long-term data.
I've had a huge reduction in butterflies, with no caterpillars until this past week. It is a problem noticed by other people in my village too. The garden is quiet and insect-free, which is alarming for many of us who've seen such a stark change.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]