3 minute read
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
Brimstone moth - photo courtesy of Vaughan Matthews
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Incredible Insects
Insects are everywhere, often overlooked, but playing vital roles in almost every ecosystem.
Pollinators
When you think about the benefits of having insects around, pollination is probably the first thing that springs to mind. There’s a good reason for this, since 87% of all plant species require animal pollination and most of this is delivered by insects. In fact, around three-quarters of all crop types grown by humans need to be pollinated by insects.
Bees are the most famous pollinators but all kinds of insects play important roles as pollinators, including flies, beetles, butterflies, moths and hoverflies.
The poo police
For most of us, a big pile of poo is a pretty unappealing prospect. But for some creatures, there’s no finer sight and these flies, beetles and other waste-loving wildlife prevent poo from building up in pastures, improve soils and even help control pests.
Dung beetles are the champions here but worms and flies also help out. In summer you might spot yellow dung flies courting on cow pats, males competing for the attention of the females that lay their eggs in the dung.
Orange Tip Butterfly - photo courtesy of Ian Yenn
Keep calm and carrion
Without insects, animal carcasses could take months to rot without the swift action of maggots and beetles, like the bright, orangesplashed sexton beetles. Male and female sexton beetles work together to dig beneath the bodies of dead birds and small mammals, burying them to create a larder for their growing larvae.
Feed the birds (and other wildlife)
Insects are a vital food source for many species, including bats, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. But falling insect numbers have already been linked to declines in some of the species that rely on them, like the spotted flycatcher, a bird whose UK population plummeted by 93% between 1967 and 2016. If our insects disappear, so will the countless other species that depend on them.
What about wasps?
Some insects have a bad reputation. Ants and wasps aren’t the most popular creatures, but they’re no less important than species like butterflies and dragonflies. Wasps are pollinators and “pest controllers”, hunting many of the insects that feed on our crops. Ants (and wasps and other burrowers) aerate the soil, digging tunnels that help transport oxygen, water and nutrients to plant roots – they're also a favourite snack of the green woodpecker.
Insects in trouble
We’re facing a global biodiversity crisis, with many species declining at an alarming rate. Animals and plants that were once common are now scarce, and insects are no exception. Recent evidence suggests that insect abundance may have declined by 50% or more since 1970. But it’s not too late. Insect populations can recover rapidly if given the chance. Gardens can be a haven for wildlife, helping connect up wild places in our wider landscape, creating a Nature Recovery Network that enables nature to live alongside us. Find out how you can help: TAKE ACTION FOR INSECTS: https://www.wildlife trusts.org/take-action-insects
article by Tom Hibbert
Early bumblebee - photo courtesy of Jon Hawkins
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