The number of flying insects has plummeted by 75 per cent in the last 25 years, according to a study that suggests we are approaching an “ecological Armageddon”. The implications for humanity are profound, with insects providing an essential role for life on earth as pollinators of plants and prey for larger animals.
You see butterflies struggling to find food along roadsides, but pesticides and cutting have reduced roadside flowers drastically. Few areas around our town are left uncut and uncultivated to bloom freely, and native plants are nearly gone from this vicinity. It’s better out where we go for pictures, but even there you see roadside cutting and spraying where it’s not needed for any good reason.
If you are tempted to cut your garden flowers now for the sake of neatness, I beg you to leave them as long as they’ll bloom. The butterflies, bees, and other insects are hungry and out and about on these warm afternoons. The insects’ presence is good for the birds, too. 💖 🐝
