I have
often written about the good insects in the gardens such as lady bugs eating aphids and tiny wasps
parasitizing scale insects.
But what else are insects good for?
Here are a few other benefits:
Pollination – crops like apples, pears, berries, coffee, melons,
cucumbers and squash are dependent upon insects for fruit production. Their work is estimated to be worth at least
8 billion dollars annually.
Honey and wax - besides the pollinating services of bees, they also
provide us with honey and beeswax which is used in candle making, polishes, inks
and cosmetics.
Dyes - many species of scale insects provide dyes that are used in
products like cosmetics, medicines, beverages and coloring in cakes.
·
Genetics - Fruit flies have long been used in genetic studies.
·
Decomposition – fly maggots and beetles breakdown carcasses, dung and
other organic matter.
Soil improvement – insects like beetles and springtails excavate and
aerate the soil.
Aesthetic value – there are many beautiful butterflies and colorful
beetles.
Skeleton cleaning – a group of insects called carpet beetles are utilized
by museum personnel to clean mammal skeletons as they feed.
And last, but not least, insects
are a food source. Many cultures utilize
insects for their nutritional value and as a condiment. Commonly eaten insects include
crickets, ants, grasshoppers, termites, beetles and caterpillars. If your
gastronomic juices are flowing, check out wikipedia.org, search ‘entomophagy’
