Insect Populations May Rebound If More Native Plants Become Available In The Wild
Insect Populations May Rebound If More Native Plants Become Available In The Wild
Ever since we were kids we have been repeatedly told that insects are essential for maintaining the proper balance of the world’s ecosystems. Without bugs, there would be no humans. This statement has always engendered a respect for insects among children, and it is a compelling and interesting way of stirring up interest and excitement over insects. However, the idea that the world could lose all of its insect species never seemed like anything more than an impossible scenario used to make a point. Who actually considered the prospect of losing entire insect species? Amazingly, in today’s world, the threat of insect species loss is very real, and its consequences are every bit as devastating as you would suppose. Of course, the planet is not going to lose all of its insect species, obviously termites and mosquitoes are doing very well these days. But, there is good evidence to suggest that some of the world’s most environmentally essential insects are experiencing steep population declines. For example, there is now no question that honey bee numbers have decreased dramatically during the past twenty years, but bees are not the only insects that are dying-off. In order to shed more light on this recent and troubling trend in insect populations, an academic expert on the matter has recently provided the public with a free lecture. This lecture was organized by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History in an effort to spread public knowledge concerning the current insect population crisis.
The University of Connecticut Environmental Metanoia lecture is called “Restoring Nature’s Relationship”. The lecture emphasized the importance of maintaining large areas of diverse native plant life. Unfortunately, construction and the development of infrastructure has killed-off many native species of plants in numerous regions. The existence of invasive insect life also contributes to the destruction of native plant species. The lecturer, a University of Delaware entomologist named Dr. Doug Tallamy, stressed the importance of reestablishing large areas of native plant life. The sharp decline in insect species may partly be caused by these mass plant deaths. The best way to make the insect populations rebound is by planting more native plant species so that more native insect species can come to inhabit North America and other regions.
Do you think that honey bees are the only major pollinators to have experienced a tremendous loss in numbers during recent decades?
