# Dramatic plunge in flying insect populations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 19, 2017, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275 "2017-10-19T11:21:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275/41 "2025-07-29T16:43:52Z")

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Selection in this case is rather brutal …the shift favoured short wings …a trait already present in the population.

I’ll try and find the article - here you go

[Birds Evolve Shorter Wings To Escape Traffic Crush : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175054275/birds-evolve-shorter-wings-to-escape-traffic-crush#:%5C~:text=Birds%20Evolve%20Shorter%20Wings%20To%20Escape%20Traffic%20Crush%20:%20NPR&text=Birds%20Evolve%20Shorter%20Wings%20To%20Escape%20Traffic%20Crush%20Cars%20and,bestow%20better%20maneuverability%20in%20traffic) .

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275/42 "2025-07-29T16:46:18Z")

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> [@MacDoc](#):
>
> I’ll try and find the article - here you go

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275/43 "2025-07-29T23:33:27Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Do you have a cite for this? Evolution over just “a few generations” is very unusual.

Two things:

1. Sometimes this is called “selection” because it has only altered the distribution of traits, not the existence of traits.

2. The Darwinian Theory of Evolution included Lyell Gradualism. That had to be abandoned in the 1970’s. Modern theories of “evolution” include rapid “evolution”.

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-plunge-in-flying-insect-populations/799275/44 "2026-09-07T23:11:51Z")

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> [@Ludovic](#):
>
> In Florida, the frequency and intensity of summer rainstorms has diminished. We used to consistently have intense rainstorms several times a week on average during the summer,

Update: I think that there’s more evidence that that’s true in Florida with regards to bugs. We haven’t had a large increase in the amount of rain this summer, but it’s been _consistent_, unlike most recent ones.

And I’ve been seeing lots of mosquitos this year as well as some horseflies and lovebugs. Much more than last year. So perhaps they were indeed temporarily diminished by a lack of consistent water. Although the lovebugs still haven’t recovered to the point that they’re plastering the fronts of cars.

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