Dear Editor,

Where have all the bugs gone?

At one time a light bulb would attract many flying insects.

Windshields and grills on vehicles used to collect smashed bugs.

Piles of trash would harbor all kinds of small animals and insects.

Spiders would weave webs all around the yard.

We planted flowers to attract butterflies. We’re getting a few bees and even fewer butterflies. Even a dragonfly has become a rare sight.

With the absence of bugs, we have fewer toads, and lizards have disappeared. Only occasionally will a snake be seen.

The food chain seems to be broken. We still have a few desperate mosquitoes.

While some people may enjoy such a sterile environment, it concerns me.

We do not use insecticides in the yard. Even if lawn care specialists working in the neighborhood might use them, there is plenty of wild space in between yards.

Insects come as a part of nature to be enjoyed, although I can appreciate the concerns of farmers and gardeners with some insects. All we seem to have left are termites, which also perform a certain function.

I can still remember the joy of picking up a praying mantis. I haven’t seen one in many years.

I prefer to see nature up close and personal, not on a video screen.

Overall, this is not a change for the better.

Tom MacCallum

Rockingham