http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/august-the-cruellest-month-for-bugs...
August the cruellest month for bugs
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
Friday, 5 September 2008
"It has been a miserable summer for bugs as well as people, the head of
Britain's insect conservation charity has said.
Although the plight of butterflies in summer 2008 has been publicised, other
insect groups have suffered severely because of the weather, explained Matt
Shardlow, director of Buglife, the invertebrate conservation trust.
Dragonflies, hoverflies, aphids, ladybirds, bumblebees, solitary bees, moths
and mayflies have all been in short supply in gardens and in the countryside
in recent weeks. "It's been a dismal summer for bugs," Mr Shardlow said.
"Sun-loving bugs have been particularly hard hit by the clouds and rain.
We're very concerned that numbers have been so low. This also means that
there is less food for the birds, and fewer flowers being pollinated."
