Butterflies Are Disappearing at a ‘Catastrophic’ Rate—While Pests Populations Are Predicted to Surge

Call it a tale of two insects: we’re learning more about how some of nature’s smallest beings are adapting to changes in their environment and how some are not. We’re keeping you updated every week on the latest news in the home improvement world, recommended reads, deals and sales worth your while, and more. In this installment of our news digest, we’ll tell you about what’s happening to the butterflies, what to expect from pests this season, IKEA’s new line of inclusive products, and more.

Extra, extra! FREE tickets are now available for our April webinar, “How to Get Rid of Weeds Once & For All!”

Scientists Sound The Alarm About Butterflies; Plan on Pests Invading and a Big Bug Boom

If you’ve wondered where all the butterflies have gone, we have some bad news. Scientists have confirmed that the pollinators are disappearing at a “catastrophic” rate, according to a new study published in Science. The study noted that the butterfly population in the United States has declined by 22 percent since 2000. The usual suspects are to blame: insecticides, climate change, and habitat loss. According to the same study, at least 114 species were suffering from population declines. One scientist did the math: if the trend continues, it means that we would lose about half of the butterflies on our continent in just a few decades.

Meanwhile, pest populations are expected to explode in the coming months. The National Pest Management Association released their Bug Barometer, and the picture is clear: the wild weather swings that we’ve been experiencing will lead to a big bug boom. Pests to watch out for will vary by season, but some of the big ones can be both nuisances and threats to your health. Think: ticks, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.

So what can homeowners do? Start in your own backyard. You can intentionally plant flowers that pollinators like butterflies love and make sure that you’re checking off the right boxes when making your garden as pollinator-friendly as can be. As for pests, always make sure that DIY eradication methods are both effective and safe. It’s important to eradicate the problem at its root (for more about that, check out our webinar with pest control pro Caleb Fabry: in addition to discussing fall pests, he gave us useful information on the most crucial factors in effective pest control).

IKEA’s New and Inclusive Line; DEWALT Makes a Recall; ‘Wellness Rooms’ Become a Home Trend

IKEA announced a new line of affordable bathroom products that meet the demand of many Americans: making a notoriously slippery and dangerous part of the home more accessible for people with disabilities, older homeowners, and more. The new line, called the BÄSINGEN series, includes a shower chair, two kinds of stools with rails, a towel rail, a shower shelf, and a toilet roll holder. The price range is impressively affordable, with the items costing anywhere from $12 to around $39. See the BÄSINGEN line of products.

Another day, another recall. DEWALT recalled its 70,000 BTU outdoor portable cordless air propane heater due to fire hazard. Learn more about the recall.

What does ‘wellness’ mean to you? Whatever it is, you can make a room out of it—and that’s exactly what some homeowners are doing. More and more homeowners are choosing to have ‘wellness rooms’ in their houses, and while this means different things to different people, there is one constant: a wellness room is a place where you can relax, recharge, and be in a stress-free sanctuary. For some, this is a home gym; for others, it’s an indoor zen garden. Interior designers have even seen requests for rooms dedicated to sound healing and meditation.

The Most Worth-It Deals of the Day

The Home Depot launched its Spring Black Friday sale last week, we’re seeing some pretty stellar deals on everything from power tools for your workshop to tools for the lawn and garden.

Recommended Reading

• Artifical grass that looks like the real thing? You’ll have to see it to believe it.
• Some of these plants can live a decade or longer—seriously.
• Your old dishwasher could use an upgrade, and your new one will likely look very different.

 

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We’ll help you set up your first garden—whether that’s a few pots on your patio, a raised bed, or an in-ground plot out back—and select the right plants for your soil and region.

GET STARTED