#Afuni kindly let's talk something about insects why important for the nature
Insects create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems. They
cycle nutrients, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and
fertility, control populations of other organisms, and provide a major food
source for other taxa. Why insects are crucial for ecological balance
Several species of insects are at the brink of extinction; this can have a
cascading effect on upper levels of the food pyramid and shake ecological
balance Climate change has pushed environmental and sustainable development
regarding biodiversity issues several notches up in the governments’ priority
list. In our talks about biodiversity and wildlife, however, insects hardly
make the cut. The ecological importance of insects cannot be underestimated:
They form the basal part of the food pyramid and impact our agriculture
ecosystems as well as human health. Their extinction can have a cascading
effect on the upper levels of the food pyramid. Insects are increasingly
susceptible to extinction due to increasing climate crisis. Rampant and
indiscriminate use of chemicals in commercial agricultural practices ,
mainly monocropping systems, has been taking a toll on insects in the
vicinity of farmlands and plantations. While everyone is talking about
sustainability in agriculture, the role of insects has largely been
ignored .A few common insects whose existence is taken for granted and
their ecological relevance are :Butterflies are important pollinators
like bees. The lime butterfly is mostly dependent on citrus plant
species and other nectar plants throughout its life cycle and is a
good indicator of environmental health .Species diversity and density
of butterfly indicate a good diversity of plants in an area. Several
types of butterflies have specific host plants. Climate change, forest
degradation, habitat loss, unavailability of hosts and nectar plant
species are among major reasons for a decline in butterfly population.
This leads to loss of plants species that depend on the butterflies
for pollination.
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