The insects in summer they are a classic. However, this 2023, in Spain, we have the feeling that there are many more than usual. Above all, many people complain about excess mosquitoes and ants. The bites of the former bring us headlong and the pests of the latter have become a problem in many homes. What is this about? Is it a perception or is it true that this year there are more insects in summer?
Well, it is true that perception plays an important role. During the winter we forget and when summer arrives we believe that there are more insects than the previous year, because that is when they are bothering us. Furthermore, psychologically negative experiences that are not traumatic are retained in memory less than positive ones. Insects in summer are not traumatic, unless we are allergic to their bites and end up in the emergency room. Therefore, we forget about the nuisance.
But it is true that this summer there is something more than usual and the reasons are mainly two. On one hand, the high temperatures, which also have started ahead of time. Just look at the heat waves we’ve already had to deal with. And, on the other hand, although we have had a very dry start to the year, right at the end of spring we have had some storms that have left very intense rains. Heat and water are the favorite ingredients of mosquitoes, but also of other insects.
Mosquitoes: the quintessential summer insects
If we talk about summer insects, it is inevitable to think of mosquitoes. Anyone who has not already had a few bites so far this summer can congratulate themselves on being very lucky, as it is true that there are quite a few this year.
The causes are the ones we have already seen: heat and late rains. But why do they like them so much?
mosquitoes are ectothermic animalsknown colloquially as cold blood. This means that they do not have the ability to regulate a constant temperature, as humans do for example. We are usually always around 36.5ºC, regardless of the ambient temperature. They, on the other hand, are cold if the temperatures are low, and hot if they are warm.
The mosquitos can be found throughout the yearsince each species has a preferred temperature range. However, they are considered summer insects because it is the season in which they are most abundant. And this is because their larvae need warm temperatures to grow. Furthermore, the larvae can only live in the stagnant water. Since this year the rains have arrived punctually, but in an already quite hot season, the warm puddles have become the perfect environment for mosquito proliferation.
What about the ants?
The ants are also being a nuisance this summer. Many people complain about having pests in their homes. This does not mean that their houses are dirtier, far from it. Just again conditions are perfect for these summer insects.
Like mosquitoes, there are ants all year round, depending on the species. But there are many who prefer the heat. In fact, they are known to reproduce faster at elevated temperatures.
these insects have the ability to store heat something that is very convenient for them to go down to the anthills, where the temperatures are much colder. For this reason, they take advantage of the summer heat to get hold of the Bookings necessary to hibernate during the winter. Let’s remember the tale of The Ant and the Grasshopper. These summer insects are very farsighted. The problem is that their provisions usually come from our houses, which, no matter how much fan or air conditioning we use, are quite warm in summer.
The abundance of insects in summer will increase
The peculiar characteristics of the climate during this year have had much to do with the climate change. And, as we have seen numerous times, this has only just begun. Therefore, it is expected that insects in summer continue to have very large population peaks. in specific environmentsyear after year.
In places like Spain, where most insects do not transmit diseases, it is not that serious, beyond the nuisance and allergies. But in places with endemic diseases like malaria or ZikaYes, it can be something very worrying if global warming is not stopped.
Even so, there are fewer and fewer insects
The fact that there are summers like this in which we see many more insects does not mean that their populations are generally increasing. Quite the opposite.
In fact, According to a study recently published in PNASsome species of insects have decreased their population in a 70% in the last three decades. Butterflies, grasshoppers and, curiously, antsThey are the most affected species.
And we might think that this is good, but it is not at all. As annoying as these animals are sometimes, they are the foundation of a food chain in which humans also participate. Furthermore, they are involved in plant pollination, so necessary for many reasons. His disappearance would be a very worrisome problem.
It is believed that, above all, these animals are disappearing due to the destruction of their habitats because of urbanization. In short: if summer insects increase, it’s our fault, because of climate change. If general populations decline, so is ours, for other reasons. We should complain less and meditate more on what we are doing.