Unsung Heroes by Niyati Bhatt

UNSUNG HEROES

Niyati Bhatt

“If you want to live and thrive, let the insects run alive...”

Yes, most of us think that all insects are bad, we hate and ignore them and eventually either kill them by the brutal broom or by the infectious insecticides. But actually, a lot of insects are very useful for us. Without them, the world would have been a different place.

Whether it's the whiteflies blanketing your tomatoes and potatoes or those squash vine borers worming their way into the pumpkins and berries patch again, you're probably already well acquainted with the bad guys in your garden. Now what’s the good news is you don't have to rely on synthetic or organic pesticides to be rid of insect pests. Turns out, there are plenty of good insects that are perfectly happy to work for you; such are the insect whom I call beneficial heroes.

They not only do a lot of pest management but also are helpful to us in many other ways like ones mentioned below.

v  INSECTS PRODUCE USEFUL PRODUCTS:

Honey:  Honey bees are kept by beekeepers because they produce honey and wax. In some countries people collect honey from wild bees.

 

Silk: Another insect that produces products for people is the silk worm. The silk worm is not a worm but it is a moth. On a silk worm farm, the caterpillars (silk worms) are fed with leaves of the mulberry tree. When the caterpillar pupates they spin a cocoon made of one long thread of silk. These cocoons are harvested to produce silk.

v  INSECTS ARE USEFUL IN AGRICULTURE:

Pollination: Farmers need insects because without the insects many crops would not produce fruits. The insects are needed to pollinate the crops. Insects such as bees, wasps and butterflies visit a flower to collect honey. At the same time they pick up some pollen and carry it with them to the next flower they visit. In this way they help to cross-pollinate the plant, which will then produce good fruits.

 

Biological control: There are many other insects that are useful to farmers because they help control pest insects. For example assassin bugs are predators that feed on caterpillars. If a farmer has many caterpillars that are destroying his crop he will be happy to see assassin bugs which are the natural enemies of these caterpillars. This control of pest insects by other insects is called “biological control”. Also many types of small wasps are beneficial to the farmer because they can kill pest insects. Such beneficial insects naturally reduce the numbers of many other, not-so-beneficial bugs, either:

·         By preying on them directly ( like: Ladybugs, Green Lacewing Larvae, Praying Mantis)

·         By parasitizing them - laying their eggs in or on the host insect of their choice. (like: Parasitic wasps)

   

Recycling Biomass: Many insects live as scavengers and feed on dead animals. Others feed on dead plant materials. In this way they help recycling of biomass in nature. This recycling process helps to create fertile top soil in which new plants and trees can easily grow. Examples of insects that are important in this biomass recycling are ants, termites, flies and cockroaches. Another example of this recycling process is the way dung beetles feed on feces. They help recycling the dung and at the same time return nutrients to the soil.

 

 Used By Researchers: Insects are easy to rear and multiply in large numbers. That’s why researchers often use insects to do all kind of experiments. A very famous laboratory insect is the common fruit fly (or vinegar fly). This insect has been studied a lot by researchers interested in genetics.

v  INSECTS ARE BEAUTIFUL:

The beauty of insects can be best enjoyed in nature. Especially butterflies and beetles can be very beautiful with a large variation of patterns and colors. Many poets are inspired by the beauty of insects and write poems about butterflies, fireflies and other insects.

  

 

“Hurt no living thing: Ladybird, or Butterfly, nor Moth with dusty wing…”

– Cristina Georgina

 

 

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