Is there a link between air pollution and a drop in global insect numbers?
1 year, 8 months ago

Is there a link between air pollution and a drop in global insect numbers?

The Hindu  

A study has found that an insect’s ability to find food and a mate is reduced when its antennae are contaminated by particulate matter from industry, transport, bushfires, and other sources of air pollution. Using a scanning electron microscope, the researchers found that as air pollution increases, more particulate material collects on the sensitive antennae of houseflies. They exposed houseflies for just 12 hours to varying levels of air pollution in Beijing and then placed the flies in a Y-shaped tube ‘maze’. Neural tests confirmed that antenna contamination significantly reduced the strength of odour-related electrical signals sent to the flies’ brains — it compromised their capacity to detect odours, says a release.

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History of this topic

Air pollution reduces pollination by changing how insects smell flowers, study finds
3 years, 2 months ago

Air pollution reduces pollination by changing how insects smell flowers, study finds

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Air pollution could be hampering the ability of bees and butterflies to pollinate by changing …

Air pollution killing giant Asian honey bees: Study
4 years, 7 months ago

Air pollution killing giant Asian honey bees: Study

Hindustan Times  

The giant Asian honey bee or apis dorsata, which produces more than 80% of India’s honey, is falling prey to air pollution, according to a first-of-its-kind quantitative analysis on the impacts of air pollution on insects by the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru. “The present study on the native pollinator is one of the few studies worldwide to address …

Fireflies in decline as natural habitats are destroyed
16 years, 7 months ago

Fireflies in decline as natural habitats are destroyed

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Male fireflies attract females with their winking backsides, but despite this innovative mating call numbers …

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