How Incredible Insects Balance Our Ecosystems
Insects might seem small, yet their role in keeping the natural world in balance is huge. From pollinating plants to breaking down waste, these tiny workers play many important parts in helping plants, animals and people thrive.
If growing plants and flowers to attract beneficial insects, read our post on pet-friendly gardens.
Pollinating Flowers and Crops
Bees, butterflies and many beetles move pollen from flower to flower. This helps plants grow fruits, seeds and new flowers. Without insects, there would be fewer apples, berries and vegetables.
Fields and gardens would struggle. Wild plants rely on them too, which supports birds and mammals that depend on seeds and fruits.
Breaking Down Dead Matter
Ants, beetles, flies and their larvae feed on dead plants and animals. This natural clean-up crew recycles nutrients back into the soil, making it rich and healthy. Without these insects, dead leaves, wood and animals would pile up, slowing growth for everything else.
Food for Wildlife
Birds, bats, reptiles, frogs and many small mammals rely on insects for food. Tiny flies and moths feed swallows and robins. Hedgehogs snap up beetles and caterpillars.
Even some fish feast on mayflies and mosquitoes. If insect numbers drop, these animals have less to eat and can disappear.
Natural Pest Control
Ladybirds, wasps and spiders help keep plant-eating bugs under control. This service protects crops and gardens from damage. Farmers often welcome these helpful hunters as part of a balanced farm.
Healthy numbers of these insects mean fewer chemicals are needed on our food.
Improving Soil Health
Earthworms, ants and beetles dig and mix the soil as they crawl. Their tunnels let water and air reach roots, while their droppings enrich the earth. With active insect life, soils stay loose and full of nutrients, which helps plants grow strong.
Read our post on no-dig gardening, to help earthworms and stag beetles.
Spreading Seeds
Some ants and beetles carry seeds away from plants. As they gather food, they drop seeds in new places, helping plants spread and grow. This leads to healthy woods, meadows and gardens, with more space and food for every creature.
Helping to Control Disease
Certain insects help keep harmful microbes in check. Dung beetles bury animal waste, limiting places where disease can spread. Some predatory flies and beetles eat pests that carry sickness. Their quiet work helps keep both wildlife and people healthier.
Supporting Water Life
Dragonfly and mayfly larvae live in streams and ponds, eating dead plants and small animals. They help keep water clean and provide food for fish and birds. Healthy wetlands and rivers depend on these underwater insects.
The Myth ‘eating insects will save the planet’
The companies that claim that eating insects (rather than cows) will save the planet are misguided. It’s not true (insects are already eaten in their millions worldwide, it has made no difference).
This is because you can feed far more people on land grown for crops (but insects eat more than they produce, so you need to provide food for them, while alive).
People are starving due to nearly all the world’s land being used for animal feed. If we ate crops instead, the land could feed people. Then the ‘insect answer’ would not be needed anyway.
Insects are also sentient beings (bees do a ‘waggle dance’ to show others where the nectar is, and ants carry ‘wounded soldiers’ back to the nest, to nurse them back to health). Do we really want to create ‘insect factory farms’ in return?
Vital Role in Cabbage Cultivation
Cabbage is a favourite in the British kitchen, but it depends on a balance of insect help. Pollinators ensure that seeds set for future crops, while pest controllers such as ladybirds and hoverflies reduce the numbers of cabbage-eating insects.
This means healthier crops without as many chemicals. England’s long history of eating cabbage, from medieval stews to Sunday dinners, owes a lot to these hidden helpers.
Fun Books to Learn More on Insects
The Insect Epiphany is a buzz-worthy book by a leading entomologist on how insects are needed as pollinators, predators and prey and how they play an often overlooked role in our culture. Their anatomy and habitats inform how we live, build, create and take flight.
An Insect a Day is a glorious collection of richly illustrated stories, profiling fascinating insects from across the world. The showcases the colours, textures and strange unique features of these fascinating creatures, and their special place in our ecosystems.
A Year of Garden Bees and Bugs profiles 52 minibeasts from the around the world, including bees, butterflies and insects. This book tells the story of what is happening week-by-week in the insect world, in our own backyards, window boxes and hidden corners of our homes.
Growbar (grow your own bug-friendly flowers!)
Growbar Bug Bar makes it easy to grow bug-friendly flowers for your garden. These will attract bees, butterflies and ladybirds.
Before growing these flowers, read our post on pet-friendly gardens. Also never face indoor plants to outdoor gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows).
The bars are nestled in fertile coir (coconut fibre), packaged by a small team in South London. The film wrap is made from sugar cane waste, and easily recycled.
To use, just unwrap the Growbar and place with the brown protective paper facing up, in a container with plenty of space to expand. Gently pour half a litre of water into the tray, then position indoors on a warm bright sunny windowsill (not facing gardens, to avoid confusing birds).
The seeds should be 18°-22° to germinate. Water regularly to keep it the colour of rich dark ginger cake. When the seedlings produce 4 to 8 leaves, gently separate into little flowerpots, where they will continue to grow on the windowsill (or plant in a sunny weed-free spot in the garden).
The bar will grow:
- Calendula (annual) is loved by ladybirds, lacewings and butterflies
- Cosmos (annual) has wide open flowers (a butterfly magnet)
- Sunflowers (annual) has brilliant blooms, to bring buzzy bees!
