Insects and other arthropods

Insects and other arthropods

Insects and other arthropods such as bugs, creepy crawlies, and no-see-ums interact with human beings in the ecosystem. Arthropods form the highest percentage of animals on earth. In existence, over one million arthropods species are living almost in different regions with various climatic conditions. There are, however, some arthropods like cockroaches, among others, that prefer living in a similar environment with human beings. In the course of coexistence between the arthropods and human beings, they end up sharing resources. A portion of the population is terrified and also disgusted by arthropods, and therefore they end up killing them the moment they come in contact. Arthropods play very crucial roles on earth. The roles are, however, both positive and negative in nature. Human beings happen to be the major beneficiaries of the impact of arthropods on the ecosystem. The roles played by arthropods include acting as an agent of crop pollination, and others act as a source of livelihood and food such as honey among some individuals and societies. In addition to this, arthropods help in decomposing organic matter. Of the negative roles, arthropods play a role in the transmission of diseases, which can, however, be controlled through the promotion of hygiene practices.

Pollination

Reproduction, particularly in plants, occurs only after the transfer of plants pollen from the stamen to the female parts of the plant, which include stigma, style, and the ovary. Although there exist various agents of pollination such as wind, insects contribute in the highest percentage in the process. It is however difficulty to quantify the value created by insects upon helping in the transfer of pollen. Some economic benefit is indirectly attached to the pollination process and in this cases. Insects involved in plane pollination include bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles among others. For instance, in United States of America, bees contribute to 80 % of all pollination in the whole nation. The pollination by bees in US positively affects some $20 billion dollars in crops per annum. Some of the crops with economic benefit attached to it and are pollinated by insects includes and not limited to fruits, vegetables, fiber and hay crops and many nuts. In the absence of pollination, food scarcity would be so severe since even animal feeds are dependent on insects for pollination.

Decomposition

Decomposition is a very crucial role especially when it’s made to add nutrients in the soil and which eventually translates into increase in food production. The role is not considered worthy to justify why insects and arthropods are important but it is very crucial. In the absence of decomposers, there we would have waste accumulated in large masses in our environments. In addition to this, the smell produced by the waste would also be a source of air pollution. Arthropods are both primary and secondary decomposers hence they help in breaking down of decomposing matter. Various decomposing matter substances attract dissimilar arthropods. Carrion feeders are involved in decomposing of dead animals and include numerous species of beetles, flies, ants, mites and wasps. Several arthropod species that are found in woody plants and soil help in decomposing plant waste.

Arthropods and insects are also sources of food for human beings. For instance, honey bees make honey which the farmer can consume. However, they can also sell and exchange it with other food materials.

Although many people do not realize the worth of insects and arthropods, it is very important that each member of society appreciates the significant roles they play in the environment. Additionally, our attitude should also change and avoid killing them the moment we get into contact.