We have very recently faced locust attacks in the past two years and have witnessed the damage that they may cause. While it is obvious that locusts are the ‘not so friendly and beneficial insects’, they must not be idealised as the representative of the entire taxa. Insects are the most diverse and plentiful animals on the planet, outweighing humans by 17 times, and are critical to the ecosystems on which mankind depends. They pollinate plants, provide food for other animals, and recycle the garbage of nature. All terrestrial ecosystems are built on the biological foundation of insects. They provide a major food source for other taxa, cycle nutrients, pollinate plants, spread seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, control populations of other creatures, and provide a major food supply for other taxa.
Dependency on Insects:
According to ecologists, if all humans vanished overnight, the Earth’s ecosystem would improve, but if all insects vanished overnight, it would be a tragedy. The death of many predator species would be the initial effect, followed by the death of most plant species (pollinated by insects). Insects are an important element of the ecology, but we are frequently their deadliest enemies. Indirectly, humans are completely reliant on insects, and we are unwittingly the sole cause of their decline.
The fall of Insecta:
A recent meta-analysis revealed terrestrial insect population slashed by 25% since 1990. This group, however, accounts for just around 10% of the entire insecta species and does not pollinate crops. As a result, scientists have warned of “catastrophic ramifications for humanity’s survival” if insect losses are not prevented. Insect reduction has numerous reasons, but insecticides and pesticides constitute a significant contributor. Some of the ones in use today are thousand-fold more dangerous than those that were outlawed in the 1970s. To make matters worse, these pesticides are now administered to crops as a preventative measure, regardless of whether pests are present. It was stated that between 2005 and 2015, the amount of pesticide applied to crops was reduced by 40% but due to new pesticides being much more toxic, the global toxicity of treated land to pollinating insects has more than doubled. Inadvertently, crops are treated too many times. They are frequently treated with fungicides that are also poisonous to insects. Insecticides or pesticides are not only detrimental to insects but also to humans and other wildlife.
Why haven’t we succeeded yet?
Land-use change (especially deforestation), climate change, agriculture, imported species, nitrification, and pollution are all factors linked to insect decreases, according to numerous researches. The major problem was still the overuse of chemical toxicants such as insecticides, pesticides, fungicides. Integrated pest management (IPM) was one approach utilized to address this issue. It provides efficient crop protection and includes techniques such as crop rotation and the use of natural predators, but it is rarely employed today due to their delayed adoption. Multiple definitions of IPM have led to misunderstanding and differing interpretations among members of the profession, as well as further contradictions between the concept of IPM and practices and public policies.
Future Perspectives:
Substantially lowering the concentration of the toxicants may direct the future to increase the numbers of insects. The application of concentrations may be reduced in the future. There would be a lot less insecticide seeping into the environment at these lower doses, which would mean less harm to beneficial insects. These adjustments would be beneficial to farmers. They would save money on pesticides and increase crop yields by ensuring that healthy pollinating insects are present. A new study seeks to develop a strategy for insect conservation and recovery (Harvey et al., 2020) through phasing out pesticide use and replacing it with ecological measures, improving restoration and conservation programs, protecting threatened species, and educating people about it.
What one can do at an individual level?
- Avoid employing “bug zappers” because they harm all the members of the insecta diversity, especially beneficial insects, and they rarely work to attract mosquitoes.
- Organic cotton clothing, bedding, and towels are available. Cotton grown traditionally utilizes a large amount of insecticide, which has a negative influence on insects.
- Use no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Prefer organic fertilizers (e.g., manure, compost from the kitchen).
- Lastly, but not the least, create awareness among farmers to understand that not all the members of the class insecta are as notorious as locusts. Their benefits and assets for the nature and crops are substantially higher than the destructions caused by some of their members.
Good one