Insects are important, even if they’re creepy!
Insects provide countless services to us and to the rest of the world. From breaking down waste to protecting plants to serving as food, they have plenty of purposes, all around the globe. National Geographic estimated that insects generate about $57 billion for the US economy alone.
I know that the urge to kill the spider in your room or the bee that won’t let you eat in peace may be strong sometimes, but consider moving them or finding another option.
Spiders are great for pest control. They tend to eat other insects which is good for farmers, and having them in your backyard might just mean fewer unwanted bugs in your home. They also provide many innovative possibilities.
Bees are very important pollinators, keeping our plants healthy, and therefore ensuring that our ecosystems stay alive.
Beetles are great indicators for water quality, the health of ecosystems, biodiversity, and more. They are a major indicator of climate change and conservation efforts.
Earwigs are very helpful as they help clean up the environment by feeding on dead plant materials and other insects.
These are a few benefits of a few insects that some people strongly dislike. Consider letting them live and serve their amazing purposes to our earth, however, evict them from your living space unless you wish to have them around for company.
Written by Zein Tynon, Class of 2024.
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/insect-bug-medicine-food-macneal?loggedin=true
https://www.earthkind.com/blog/spiders-important-whats-purpose/
https://www.colonialpest.com/what-good-are-earwigs/
Photo Credits:
Photo by David Maltais on Unsplash.