Vanishing Wings:  A Wake-Up Call for Nature

How Neonics Threaten Our Insects, Aquatic Life, and More!

Mike Miller– Stream Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

This eye-opening presentation is about neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) and the growing threat they pose to the insects that live in our streams, rivers, and wetlands—especially dragonflies, mayflies, and other aquatic bugs.

These fragile flyers are far more than summer scenery. They help keep our waters clean, support fish and bird populations, and signal the health of entire ecosystems. But neonics—widely used in agriculture and urban areas—are silently wiping them out.

🔍 This talk explores:

• What neonics are and how they enter our waterways
• The essential roles of aquatic insects like dragonflies and mayflies
• How insect loss impacts the entire food web—from bugs to birds to fish
• What we can do to turn the tide

💧 If you care about clean water, healthy rivers, or just love the shimmer of dragonfly wings—this conversation is for you.

About the Speaker:
Mike Miller is a stream ecologist with the Wisconsin DNR in Madison, focusing on stream and watershed assessment, neonicotinoid contamination, and innovative technologies like UAVs for stream research. He co-authored A Field Guide to Wisconsin Streams, teaches at the University of Wisconsin, and collaborates with citizen scientists. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.