I voted "equal" but I think it's more of some things and less of others.
More bees I think, including a lot of the bumblebees with light-coloured bums. I think they've got a nest in the deep recesses of the shed of shame (I've seen them going in and out through a crack in the door). But fewer ladybirds - I've not seen many yet, and I haven't seen any of the larvae. Some aphids but not a monster population (and so far 🤞 no horrid fat grey lupin aphids). Both green and hairy shieldbugs, seemingly living cheek by jowl with each other. Several nests of yellow ants, but no black ones yet - they'll be along when the weather warms up some more. I've evicted a couple of wasps from the house but haven't really noticed them outside. Usual complement of long-leggy things like craneflies and spiders (I know spiders aren't insects). Lots of woodbugs under plant pots and in the compost bins. Lots of white butterflies, a few orange tips, a small copper and several little blue ones that don't sit still long enough for me to get a good look. I see moths on the outside of the windows at night but I don't notice them in the daytime.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I have not noticed a significant difference in insect numbers so far this year. More ladybirds I have seen are a small yellow and black spot type. I noticed a dragon fly shaped insect with more green colouring in flowers about a week back and more typically couloured ones for my garden near the pond a few days later. Not noticed dragonflies away from the pond before but have a bigger patch of wildflowers in one spot than in other years. Noticed what I think is a type of bee fly in the same area earlier and posted a video since I was unsure what it was here.
We had a second bee swarm arrive this afternoon - luckily they pitched in a tree, rather than the house. Our beekeeping neighbour has put them in a cardboard box. She'll be back when it's getting dark to take them away. The ones in the wall we probably have to live with
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Nothing much different here, apart from more bees/hoverflies in the last few week as it's been so dry, sunny and warm here. I laughed a little when I first read this thread the other day. What many people are experiencing further south would be a normal spring here for us in most years, and it's why I always ask people where they are when trying to offer advice. You can maybe see how big a difference temps/conditions make with regard to plants starting to grow, and when pollinators and butterflies/moths appear, and when birds start nesting etc, and why we have a shorter season further north
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Normal here, maybe a bit better than normal when the weather is warm enough. The cold nights have been a problem I think but most places I go seem to be buzzing. It's still early in the season yet.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Posts
I ♥ my garden.
As it happens, I drove through a swarm of bees last week, they appeared out of nowhere in the works carpark as I was driving in.
Normally we get a plague of St Mark's flies but I didn't see a single one this year.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Last year I hardly had one bug on the car. This year I’m constantly cleaning them off!
I laughed a little when I first read this thread the other day. What many people are experiencing further south would be a normal spring here for us in most years, and it's why I always ask people where they are when trying to offer advice.
You can maybe see how big a difference temps/conditions make with regard to plants starting to grow, and when pollinators and butterflies/moths appear, and when birds start nesting etc, and why we have a shorter season further north
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...