Houston McLaury-
With the 59th Nobel Conference happening this week, I thought it would be interesting to stay on topic and discuss one of the creatures our species has to live with: insects. They make up a great majority of the species on the planet. Without them, our world could not function the way it does to this day, thanks to many of them serving as pollinators and food for other animals, as well as the endless evolutionary potential they offer. But, I do not wish to focus on the insects we deem as popular. I wish to focus on the outcasts, the ones picked last during dodgeball. The rejects of the insect community, the ones we hope to kill, often joking about their extinction without realizing the ramifications this would have on not only our species but the world as a whole.
Starting with a common annoyance and great grievance in the summer, our least favorite blood-sucker must be mentioned: the mosquito. For those who have lived under a rock, or have never left the comfort of their rooms, a mosquito is a flying insect with a long needle-like nose that sucks the blood of its victims and uses the blood for nutrition and egg production. As if stealing our blood wasn’t bad enough, they also leave a terribly annoying itch with every prick of their needle that can last for days on end and can be a deliverer of a variety of different diseases. So, what’s the use of them? Why would I defend these blood-sucking parasites?
The same reason we defend lawyers: we need them. These little fellas are great pollinators. Both male and female mosquitoes often transfer pollen between plants because they also need to feed on nectar, the same way butterflies do. Not only that, but these little insects provide a great amount of sustenance to a variety of different animals.
Bats (another great pollinator) often go out at night to eat a variety of insects: mosquitoes included in their robust diet. Along with this, many different birds will also set their eyes on this bountiful species to feed and feast on, allowing the birds to be sustained. Without mosquitoes, our pollinators would be considerably fewer and the food supply for many birds, bats, and other creatures would shrink considerably. So, to keep these species of fauna and flora alive and well, the human world must continue to suffer the grievance of the mosquito.
Keeping with this theme of blood-sucking parasites, it is also important to mention the tick. They function in similar ways to the mosquito, using the blood from other species as nutrients, however, they attach to their host and can feed for a much longer time. They can also transmit a whole host of diseases to their host, one of the big concerns being Lyme Disease.
For ticks, it’s harder to make a case for them, as they serve merely the fauna, not both the fauna and flora as the mosquitoes do. Along with this, I must admit I have a personal distaste for ticks. I enjoyed hiking with my family as a child and the disgust of finding a tick on your body is truly unmatched. Yet, still, I must concede that these parasites, no matter my distaste, are a source of nutrients for birds, bats, mice, squirrels, and opossums. They offer a vital source of nutrients to these creatures, and because of that, I cannot condemn them for their mere existence.
Moving on to another small insect, we come to the fly. These little guys may be annoying in restaurants and our houses, but they serve a vital function in a greater ecological sense. Not only are they a great source of food for many varied species, but they are also great scavengers. This means they find rotting things, like the bodies of animals, rotten fruits and vegetables, and attach to these items to break them down. They’re able to locate carrion, find it, and use it not only to benefit their species through food and using the carrion as a place to store its eggs, but they add to the decomposition process. They help give the nutrients from the carrion back to the earth, helping to keep the food chain going.
Despite our distaste and our disdain for many of these insects, we must look past our prejudices. These insects offer an insurmountable service to not only the ecosystem but also to ourselves. Without these annoying insects, we would be left in a crumbling world.