I am a huge lover of insects. I saw a documentary about tarantulas when I was young and now I'm hooked. Currently, my favorite insects are mantids(carolina and chinese), ants, and beetles, specifically D. Tityus, L. Elaphus and L. Capreolus, along with O. Eremicola/emerita and C. Nitida. I love them all so much and I would hate to see them gone. Unfortunately, it seems that that's the path were going down on We rely heavily on insects for everything. Many people eat them and they are quite literally feeding us- they pollinate crops and provide is with honey and ant colonies have been known to increase diversity and plant life in its vicinity, and some species even unknowingly plant new plants(Aphaenogaster, maybe pheidole and pogonomyrmex). Plants rely so heavily on bees and others to pollinate them that if they were gone, what would happen to them? Simply, most plants, if not all, would die out.
Flies, dung beetles, and so on contribute much to our health- many see them as vermin and contributors of disease. However, when you think about it, we'd be wading in filth, decay, garbage, and animal waste if it weren't for them. Without them, infectious disease would reign.
What about all the other animals that rely so much on them for food? Many animals(from persinal observation) seem to be awaiting spring, summer, and the beginning of fall since that's when many insects become active. I have seen other ant colonies, birds, fish, and countless others relt heavily on the uprising of grasshoppers and queen ant nuptial flights.
Finally, the insect also provides us with an indirect source of food. Many fish heavily rely on them as food, and in this case I'm talking about trout. They heavily rely on mayflies for food' the larvae and adults. In fact, a type of fishing has been dedicated to imitating mayflies in order to catch them.
So what I am asking you is to please consider what I have just said. Post your opinion(hopefully nothing negative) on this and tell me what you think. But what i am trying tl tell you is to please try and do something- it doesn't have to be big, just start off by feeding that wild ant colony outside or trying to care for wild bees, wasps, and other insects. If you find a wandering queen that you don't want, catch it and dig it a little burrow in the dirt. When hibernation comes, leave small drops of honey or fruit or dead insects so that ants, beetles, and others can fatten up. It doesn't have to be big or small, but just try. Many times I wonder to myself- will insects ecist in a decade or two? Will I ever be able to have the joy in catching another queen or finding a massive D. Tityus at the porch light? Will I ever be able to raise a little mantis hatchling to adulthood? Will I ever hear the chorus of frogs and crickets late at night?
Thank you.
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