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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry that there are no insects in my house tonight?

107 replies

whiteroseredrose · 17/06/2023 22:01

The windows have been open all day and this evening; the lights are on, but there is not a single moth or buzzing creature in my house at all.

We've still not mowed after 'no mow May' so there are lots of flowers everywhere, but only a few bees.

Has anyone else found this?

OP posts:
BakedTattie · 17/06/2023 22:35

South East coast Scotland. All the insects in the world are currently partying in my house. Bloody awful

DressMadeOfSeashells · 17/06/2023 22:40

I walked past my front window yesterday and couldn't believe the amount of dead flies on the window sill. It looked like I'd been having a crack at taxidermy (this was an actual incident local to me). Anyway, my garden is full of bees, woodlice, spiders and ants so I think we're ok here.

Timefordrama · 17/06/2023 22:44

Blarn · 17/06/2023 22:30

I always think that if we've driven a longish way in Summer, especially on country roads. My dad's car used to be covered in insect splats, the windscreen, bonnet, number plate. Ours barely anything. I try to do my bit: we don't use pesticides or weedkiller, we have a mown lawn and a wild bit plus a good mix of flowers. Every now and then I do wonder where the decline in insects is going to lead too.

This year, for the first time in many years, my windscreen and front bumper looked like insect armageddon after driving to my sister's in Durham from my home in Oxford. And my garden is full of small flying things - and the birds seen more numerous too. So, in my experience, it seems the insect population is increasing after years of decrease. It's a very positive sign, just got to put up with the increased risk of getting bitten. I look like I've got mumps after being bitten on the face a couple of days ago!

Crimblecrumblerules · 17/06/2023 22:51

I rescued a bumble bee from a spider's web today. Felt incredibly emotional as I watched him merrily buzz off

DinaofCloud9 · 17/06/2023 22:53

I've got a fly and 3 moths busying around getting on my nerves.

TonysGaff · 17/06/2023 22:55

They are all at mine.

If anything, I've seen more this year. I've had mozzies, crane flies, several types of beetle/leaf, wasps, various species of moths, 3 species of spider (okay, not actually an insect) and at least 4 species of fly come in the house today. I noticed greenfly (grrrrr), 2 species of bee, thrips, a chalk blue butterfly and several massive dragonflies on my balcony in Central London this afternoon. I haven't seen any ladybirds yet this year though.

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/06/2023 23:07

They are all in my house. I could count multiple species of spider, moth and crane fly plus quite a lot of very chunk mosquitos that I am smacking as fast as I can (5 today via the 'clap fast' method. DP is only on 3, loser).

I wish they weren't... but then on the other hand it does concern me that years ago you'd have to clean dead insects off windscreens and headlights and in all the years we've had a car.. we never have :(

stbrandonsboat · 17/06/2023 23:10

I'm seeing hardly anything apart from bumble bees. I plant for insects so there are plenty of flowers for them here. I haven't seen any wasps at all. A moth got into the kitchen this afternoon and then went back outside. There's nothing on my car windscreen or number plate. I love insects and worry about their decline. It feels weird and artificial not having them around.

MissGroves · 17/06/2023 23:12

Haven’t seen a single bee this year so far. A couple of moths maybe, no lady birds, 1 butterfly. I’m going to be completely honest, it hadn’t registered with me until you said about how few bugs there are but now thinking about it I’m actually shocked (I’m normally whinging about how many bugs are in my house whilst also leaving every window open and every light on! 🙈😂)

stbrandonsboat · 17/06/2023 23:19

The bats and insect eating birds must be suffering. I know numbers have massively declined, but I think some species will disappear. A lot of people seem to despise wildlife and are constantly trying to eradicate it, so I expect they'll be happy. They can set their sights on chopping trees and hedges down next. You can never have enough concrete and fake grass after all.

RunningUpThatMill · 17/06/2023 23:19

I accidentally killed a spider today and I'm gutted. It was a decent size, and was stuck in the bath. I took up a glass and piece of paper to relocate it to the shed, it attached itself to the piece of paper, and whilst I was trying to put it in the glass, it fell off and ran down the plug hole. I didn't shower for a few hours thinking it might come back up. Nope. My DH has since showered.

Iridescentsy · 17/06/2023 23:24

We just killed about 20 crane flies and I got bitten by 3 mozzies this evening in the garden so you can have some of those if you like

viques · 17/06/2023 23:27

CinnabarRed · 17/06/2023 22:07

i have loads of bees and flies here - South Bucks.

i don’t recall seeing many wasps so far.

I have seen one wasp and one ladybird this year. Quite a lot of bees, which I am pleased about, but would be very happy to have seen a lot fewer bluebottle flies. Hate them.

Payitforward55 · 17/06/2023 23:31

I've been saying this for the past few months and its honestly quite scary. I'm in Northern Ireland and where we would have had 12 - 15 bees and pollinators in our garden at any one time, there was 1!! In fairness in the past week there have been a few more bees maybe up to 4 and 2 - 3 butterflies but even around the bins - NOTHING!! Its not normal and its not good. I'm genuinely concerned

80thkat · 17/06/2023 23:37

Iridescentsy · 17/06/2023 23:24

We just killed about 20 crane flies and I got bitten by 3 mozzies this evening in the garden so you can have some of those if you like

Wtf, why did you kill them?

LucilleIsThirsty · 17/06/2023 23:50

We currently have 2 small moths, a UFO and a very annoying mozzie in our living room. Haven't seen a single ladybird yet, and only a couple of bees.
I found a gigantic brown moth on the patio yesterday but sadly it was dead 😔

Excitingnewusername · 17/06/2023 23:51

Noticeably fewer bugs here in North Lancashire this year too. I suspect as we jumped from cold and wet, straight to heatwave, and we've had no decent rain for over a month now.

Our yarden is normally buzzing with bees, but I regularly just see one or two at a time at the moment and haven't seen a single bee in the front yard (and I garden for wildlife with plenty of varied flowers, several water sources, and no weedkillers etc, so they should be there).

I filled a large ground bird feeder twice today and the food vanished in moments both times.

It is genuinely disquieting.

tillyandmilly · 17/06/2023 23:58

Can’t understand killing a living creature no matter how small just because they annoy you? Please don't teach your children to kill insects - we need insects!

Mummy08m · 17/06/2023 23:59

Where are you op?

I'm in South London and we've got lots of wasps and moths (so many moths, they flap around so noisily) a few bees and a hundred billion spiders. No mosquitos yet but I think it's because it's been too dry (?) Or maybe because the spiders have eaten them (thank you).

I also have seen on our road this month a quite interesting looking shiny blue beetle, as long as my thumb, with sort of pincer-horns, and a huge reddish brown centipede that my dd insisted taking a photo of and showing her nursery teacher.

We have also had several butterflies but not that many, I wonder if the birds eat them, if that is a thing. I wish they'd eat the snails instead.

Also if this counts, aphids, many aphids. Aphids are the reason why we should all cherish wasps more

Thelnebriati · 18/06/2023 00:00

I haven't seen a large moth for years. We used to hang a sheet with a light behind it at night to see how many different types we could spot.

Sarahtm35 · 18/06/2023 00:13

I’m in the south and my house is currently covered in moths some really giant ones! Little insects etc.

anothermansmother · 18/06/2023 00:25

Plenty in our house, it seems like we're hosting the cast of bugs life, every time I think I've got rid of them I find another one. The latest being a Caterpillar on the sofa...I'm blaming the dog for bringing him in.

MadeFrom100percentPears · 18/06/2023 01:08

Can't move for buzzy things. Have banned family from opening windows. I'd rather be hot!

Floralnomad · 18/06/2023 01:29

Plenty of insects and things flying about in my garden , they all come and party around my outside lights when the dog goes out for his bedtime wee . We have fly screens on all of our windows so rarely get anything indoors .

Tryingtogetonwithit · 18/06/2023 03:46

The car windscreen comparison is actually quite stark, I hadn't though how few there seems to be now compared to when I was a kid. I try and have a very insect friendly garden but haven't seen any ladybirds, hardly any butterflies but definitely more bees than the last few years and last week I had a lacewing inside haven't to my knowledge seen one up close before.