Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations | Without bats to eat insects, farmers turned to more pesticides, a study found. That appears to have increased infant deaths

@ickplant · 2 months ago

Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations | Without bats to eat insects, farmers turned to more pesticides, a study found. That appears to have increased infant deaths

@[email protected] · 2 months ago

After WNS [white-nose syndrome] detection, insecticide use was about 1 kg/km2 higher in the WNS-confirmed counties compared with the non-WNS counties, relative to the year before WNS detection. After more than 5 years from initial exposure, insecticide use was, on average, more than 2 kg/km2 higher. These results reflect substantial increases, above 25%

The paper, if anyone wants to read it