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The Dry Forest of Costa Rica Is Running Out of Insects

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Dr. Dan Janzen photographs moths in Área de Conservación Guanacaste (photo by Diego Arguedas)

In a new article, "El bosque seco de Costa Rica se queda sin insectos" (The Dry Forest of Costa Rica Is Running Out of Insects), GDFCF president Dr. Dan Janzen says, "The number of species [of moths in Área de Conservación Guanacaste] is very low. Only fifteen years ago, at this time of the month, there would have been about 500 species on this sheet. Now there may be about 100… maybe about 150." What is causing this situation? According to Dan, it's climate change. He says: "The first problem is heat. The second problem is the change in the amount of rainfall. But the most harmful is the lack of synchronicity. It used to be I could win a case of beer if I bet the first rain would fall on May 15. Now, I can't even consider saying a date.” The article was published in Ojo al Clima (Eye to Climate), a University of Costa Rica series that is focused on trying to make climate change easier to understand. The full article (in Spanish) can be found here.