Monitoring insects
in a changing world
| Interviewee | Chris Shorthall | Presenters | Nathan and Ben P. | |
| Reporters | Alex S. and Jess | Producer | Lucy and Daniel R. |
We use a network of tall "suction traps" for catching insects. There are 16 traps in the UK and they have been emptied every day for 40 years. Aphids ("greenfly") are important pests and are identified and tested for insecticide resistance and whether or not they are carrying virus diseases of crops. This information is used to advise farmers which insecticides to use and when to use them. We look at how weather affects the timing of aphid flights and numbers flying, and use this information to forecast problems in the near future and in the longer term as a result of climate change. We can also look at how numbers of other insects have changed over the years.
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