I have an established native garden with a wide variety of host and pollinator attracting plants in Eastern MA. Although I am not primarily an insect person I do try to document plant-visiting insects when I notice them. This year seems like it has been very slow. Some flowers that tend to be mobbed (like Black Cohosh, Carolina Rose) not so much this year. We did have a spell of pretty cold weather in late January–not record breaking but around zero. Has anyone else noticed this? On the other hand, I see that most of the butterflies I documented in iNaturalist were in July, so maybe be patient?
I’m noticing the same thing in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Many of my native plants are not seeing many insect visitors. Might be the cold winter, but I think the precipitation pattern is off too. Longer dry spells, monthly totals lower than average. This current hot spell with no rain is not helping either. I see little afternoon activity on my milkweed, and monarda which are in bloom.
I’m in Rhode Island, also with a native plant garden. I compared my observations this May-July with last year at the same time, and I have more locally this year than last. And I’ve seen some species for the first time ever this year, which is always exciting. It feels quieter (although it’s early in the spotting season for me, so to speak) so I’ve perhaps been taking more time to observe, which may make a difference.
That’s great! I’m always worried about the insect apocalypse but maybe it’s not specifically the case this year.
This is my first year living in Louisville KY but so far I’m seeing much fewer leps and hoverflies compared to September-October of last year. Wasps seem to be doing ok.
I remember this similar concern from two years ago: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/decreased-pollinator-activity/51731
I haven’t compared my observations from this year to previous years, but I feel like here in Vermont I have seen plenty of moths, flies, and small bees like furrow bees and mining bees, but I haven’t seen many bumblebees or butterflies - yet. I hope that is simply because I haven’t gone out to stand in the fields amidst the milkweed, to look for them.
.