Disappearances in a strange summer

Damien Enright reports further on our lack of insects.

LAST month, I wrote about the disappearance of bees and the dire consequences humanity would face were these industrious pollinators to continue their alarming decline. Later, I mentioned the buddleia (aka Butterfly Bush) was in bloom and not a butterfly or bee anywhere to be seen.

I’ve since had numerous reports from readers of the scarcity of butterflies and bees. Equally worrying are reports of the absence of other insects that would normally be present in myriads at this time of year.