Hobbies And Interests
Pollinators
The insects that pollinate plants and trees are precious. A decline in the bee population is of serious concern to entomologists, farmers and gardeners alike. Other pollinating insects include butterflies and moths, beetles, flies, wasps and ants. These insects fly or crawl from plant to plant, spreading pollen. Without these insects, crops could not be cultivated and forests and grasslands would die out.
Parasites
It's difficult to think of parasites as useful insects, but since many of these little bloodsuckers carry diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and Lyme disease, they help control the animal and human population. Fleas, mosquitoes and ticks are all parasites. Lice, bedbugs and tsetse flies also use mammals and birds as a source of nutrients. Entomologists study these insects to find ways to keep disease vectors from harming or killing their hosts.
Predators
Many insects are predators. They eat other insects, including the hated parasite. Dragonflies eat biting midges and mosquitoes. Soldier beetles and ladybugs assist gardeners by eating cutworms, aphids and snails. Many predators end up being prey themselves, adding to the food supply. One benefit to studying these insects is to find out how to use them as a biological pest control.
Decomposers
The insects that act as scavengers and decomposers are extremely important to the environment. Imagine what would happen if all the plants and animals that died were not disposed of? Cockroaches are a good example of an insect scavenger. Over 3,000 species of cockroach eat both dead plants and animals, cleaning up carcasses and recycling organic material.
The study of insects that decompose the human body is called forensic entomology. Criminalists record which insects are present in the corpse, which life cycle stage each insect is in and whether the insects have reacted to drugs or toxins in the tissues. This group of insects, which includes blow flies and carrion beetles, can help determine time and cause of death.