Washington

I’m 60 and have lived in Texas my whole life with small stints in other states. Growing up here, I remember the abundance and diversity of insects. I would spend whole days exploring the creeks and fields near my house, and those ecosystems were absolutely thriving. A road trip to Austin would make for a very messy windshield. I remember my older brother doing an insect collection for his high school biology class, and it took up this huge board. Lightning Bugs were standard every summer, and they put on an amazing display in their abundance. Now, I’ve noticed we will go several summers without seeing any, but some years I will notice 3 or 4. I don’t see near the number or diversity of insects anymore. I don’t remember not being able to get enough oxygen during the hottest part of summer in all of my years here, but yesterday we were at a popular swim hole and it wasn’t just hot. The heat index had to be at least 105 and, even without exertion, it was difficult to breath because of the humidity. I’ve also noticed a drastic drop in the number of toads on my property. Twenty-five years ago, a day of rain (which was way more common then) would result in me seeing several toads hopping about the place. I rarely see toads anymore.