We do not kill insects with only fly-fly: we also destroy their natural habitat. The experts e
Imagine, for example, a butterfly in a city park. It is threatened by the loss of habitat as the city grows, but its habitat may also be threatened by invasive plants that escape the gardens. At the same time, it suffers the effects of pollution – light, atmospheric and sound pollution are common in urban areas.
Light pollution is especially important for moths, because they are attracted to artificial lights at night, as are their predators. Spiders, for example, have learned to hunt in illuminated areas. When species of flying at night spend a lot of time near lights, they can spend a lot of energyleaving less for other activities, such as pollinating plants.
Besides being pollinating, butterflies also control plant growth when they eat leaves during the caterpillar phase. And provide food for many species of birds and bats, which play their own important roles in ecosystems.
Risks in agricultural lands and orchards
Intensive agriculture is one of the most discussed factors as causing insect decline. It is also strongly linked to other causes.
Now think of native bees in agricultural areas. As agriculture expands, its native habitat is reduced. Agricultural landscapes also tend to have high levels of chemical pollution – Especially insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. Insecticides are designed to disturb insect physiology and can directly impair bees, while herbicides indirectly disturb bees by removing plants that provide food.
Often US agricultural explorations also use European, native European bees for pollination. These introduced bees are easier to manage, but can spread diseases and parasites in native bee populations.
Native bees may be able to survive one of these threats, but the three joints represent a much greater challenge.
Polluted water can also damage insects
Human beings often focus on insects such as bees and butterflies because they are more visible, but many insects spend much of their life underwater, where they face another set of threats.
For example, dragonflies are aquatic when young. The threats at this stage of life are no less serious, but they are totally different from those adults face.
When water levels in streams or lagoons decrease, this reduces the habitat of young dragons. These insects can also be threatened with water pollution from flow and increased water temperature with climate change.
Successful conservation considers all risks
These connections mean that humans should be careful with conservation.
Well-meaning actions, such as reducing pollution or controlling invasive species, can help, but will have little effect if there is no Habitat for insects to return. Restoring habitat can bring widespread benefits and potentially help insects respond to other threats.
There are more insect species on earth than species in any other group of plants or animals. They can be found almost everywhere.
However, public attention is mainly focused on pollinators. This can leave other insects exposed to not approached human threats.
Preserve and restore water resourcessuch as wet zones, lakes and streams, is vital to aquatic insects such as dragonflies. Many other insects spend most of their lives underground. Insects living in the ground, such as some beetles and flies, perform important functions, such as decomposing dead plant matter.
Successful conservation also considers species throughout their life cycles. For example, Plant pollinating gardens Provides nectar for adult flies-an important but often forgotten pollinator. But a garden in itself would not necessarily provide food for the larval stage, when many flourish flies decompose plant and animal matter.
How to help insects
The simplest way to help insects is to provide high quality habitats. This includes supporting a variety of native plants which can provide nectar and leaves, which are food for many herbivorous insects throughout their lives.
A good habitat also offers places for insects to make nestslike naked soil or dry leaves. Larger areas are better, but even small gardens can be useful.
At the same time, it is important to limit exposure to other threats. Actions such as decrease artificial lights at night and reduce the use of pesticides They can help.
There are many reasons for the decline of insects, making the population’s recovery an imposing challenge. But there are also many ways, large and small, in which people, cities, and companies can reduce damage and help these valuable living beings prosper.
