Frequently Asked Questions About Insects - Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic:	Beneficial insects
Question:	In a seminar you gave, you explained that the main reason people shouldn't spray insects is that many insects are beneficial. Could you please list a few benefits that insects provide?
Answer:	Some of the benefits that insects provide are: - Insects pollinate most plants (except grasses), including almost all of the fruits and vegetables we eat. We wouldn't have these foods if it weren't for insects! - Insects are predators and parasites and contribute to the balance of nature. - Insects recycle organic waste by eating dead plants and animals. Termites and many beetles help recycle trees. Maggots and various other insects eat dead animals. - Insects produce natural products such as honey, silk, red dye, and a few others. Our world would be very different without insects. They play a crucial role in the balance of nature, so we shouldn't just kill them indiscriminately.
Related Link:	http://vegipm.tamu.edu/imageindex.html
Related Link:
Image Link: **	http://vegipm.tamu.edu/imageindex.html
Response by:	John A. Jackman, Ph.D.
Title:	Professor and Extension Specialist
** Most of the Related Links above also contain images.