Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
On 7/20/2026 9:17 AM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid"
insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
I have not. It's been dry here this summer, so much so that
I regularly sit outside reading in the late evenings with no
bites.
OTOH this morning I picked up a small insect in my eye while
riding but cleared it with an eye cup easily. Can't recall
the last time I had an insect impact of any sort while riding.
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" >insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
On Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:17:47 -0000 (UTC), bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" >>insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
I haven't noticed any change. My biggest insect concern is the fire
ants.
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:17:47 -0000 (UTC), bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" >>>insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
I haven't noticed any change. My biggest insect concern is the fire
ants.
I'm aware fire ants are trouble, but can they get aboard a bicycle
that's underway? Thankfully fire ants haven't reached the Sacramento
Valley (yet!).
Thanks to all who've replied, I guess my observations are either
erroneous or purely local.
bob prohaska
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
On 7/20/2026 10:17 AM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects
over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland
since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me)
rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that
bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain
extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they
just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all
during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic
honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial
agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that
"neonicotinoid"
insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause
disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down,
so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the
number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
bob prohaska
I haven't noticed an increase, but something 'struck' me the
other day while I was riding in NH where there is no helmet
law: I've been riding/racing for over 40 years and have had
my share of bug strikes, sometimes at speed on downhills.
For this reason I _always_ wear glasses while riding except
for the occasional race in the rain where splatter makes it
impossible to see.
So, as I was driving home the other day a motorcycle blew by
me on the highway doing well over the 70 MPH I was traveling
- the rider with no helmet or face protection. At that speed
there's no way in hell he would see a large flying insect
heading towards him, or worse yet a small rock kicked up by
traffic or dropped off the back of a gravel truck.
that'll leave a mark....
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects overBob, the environmntal movement has caused a reduction in crop spraying and/or with pesticides with greatly reduced effectiveness. They have also blamed Roundup for causing cancer for which there isn't a shred of evidence leading to greatly diluted RoundUp spraying which caused plants to become immune to the effects of herbicides like RoundUp.
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid" insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
On Mon Jul 20 14:17:47 2026 bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
Has anybody noticed an increase in collisions with insects over
the past few years? Much of my riding has been in farmland since
2005, and initially it seemed I hit bugs (or bugs hit me) rather
rarely, a few times at most per year. Now it seems that bouncing
bugs occur once or twice on every ride. Stings remain extremely
rare, the last one was several years ago. Usually they just bounce
off, or sort themselves out and fly away.
Obviously, it's seasonal, with essentially no bugs at all during
fall and winter. Most of the bugs appear to be domestic honeybees,
used in large but not increasing numbers for industrial agriculture.
In the past there's been some worry in ag circles that "neonicotinoid"
insecticides, though not directly lethal to bees, cause disorientation.
Has anybody else noticed this? My riding is slowing down, so it isn't
a speed (at least not mine!) effect. I don't think the number of bees
or their hive placement has changed either.
Thanks for reading,
Bob, the environmntal movement has caused a reduction in crop spraying and/or with pesticides with greatly reduced effectiveness. They have also blamed Roundup for causing cancer for which there isn't a shred of evidence leading to greatly diluted RoundUp spraying which caused plants to become immune to the effects of herbicides like RoundUp.
The result of this is greatly increased single crop pests in farming country.
This morning I was hit hard in the glasses by either a honey bee (according to the conservationists honey bees should have become exinct 5 years ago) or perhaps a horse fly and I was glad to be wearing glasses.
I haven't noticed an increase, but something 'struck' me the other day
while I was riding in NH where there is no helmet law: I've been riding/racing for over 40 years and have had my share of bug strikes, sometimes at speed on downhills. For this reason I _always_ wear glasses while riding except for the occasional race in the rain where splatter
makes it impossible to see.
So, as I was driving home the other day a motorcycle blew by me on the highway doing well over the 70 MPH I was traveling - the rider with no helmet or face protection. At that speed there's no way in hell he would
see a large flying insect heading towards him, or worse yet a small rock kicked up by traffic or dropped off the back of a gravel truck.
that'll leave a mark....
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