What Are 2 Advantages of the Insect Population?

Pollination

• Insects are the major pollinators for many plants. They aid in the production of fruits, vegetables, seeds and flowers by carrying pollen among the blossoms. More than 200 species of cultivated crop plants in the United States are pollinated chiefly by insects. Honeybees are well-known and important pollinators that assist in the U.S. production of about $20 billion in crops per year, including fruits, vegetables and nuts. Other major pollinators are butterflies, moths, beetles and flies. Some flowers can be pollinated by one type of insect only.

Decomposition and Recycling

• Insects provide a valuable service as decomposers of organic matter. They devour the carcasses of dead animals and plants and burrow into the soil to bury animal dung and dead material. This aerates and nourishes the soil and helps ensure the ground is not covered in dead things and animal droppings. Several dung beetle species have been introduced to the United States to keep cow pastures clean and to fertilize soil.

Other Advantages

• Insects provide food for many animals, fish and birds. In some countries, they are an important source of protein for people. They produce useful products such as silk, honey, beeswax, lac, dyes and components for pharmaceuticals. They are valuable tools for scientific research because they reproduce quickly and are easy to keep. They can be used to control weed species, and they have aesthetic value. Beetles come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and colors, and butterflies are one of the most visually appealing insects because of their colors and patterns.

Disadvantages

• Not all insects are helpful to man. Some, such as plague locusts, can become pests to food crops, which can cost farmers money in lost crops and in efforts to eradicate the insects and protect the crops. Domesticated animals often suffer from insect pests such as fleas, ticks and lice, which can be difficult to control. Insects such as cockroaches, bedbugs and houseflies can be pests in homes. Insects also can transmit diseases that affect humans, such as mosquitoes that carry malaria.