Without a doubt, the biggest nuisance in the history of the world is insects. They have stood since the dawn of time and have remained a staple on earth. The dislike for them is undeniable and nothing quite affects our everyday life like them. But a danger has begun to arise and threaten their very existence. The insect apocalypse is quickly becoming one of the most alarming issues. This is not just an issue for their population but their disappearance could potentially result in entire ecosystems collapse.
In the past 50 years, the insect population has declined 75% worldwide. These declines have been observed worldwide with pollinators, aquatic insects, and soil insects being the most affected. The sharp decrease in insect biomass and species diversity has turned scary despite the bother that they are. An apocalypse does not mean their total extinction overnight but is instead the widespread population collapse of the species. There will be a loss of functional roles and the eventual unraveling of life-support systems.
There is no single cause behind their decline. Years of various human driven causes have led to their increasing disappearance. Habitat destruction through urbanization has wiped out homes for them. Pesticides have poisoned species to near extinction. Climate change has altered their needed temperatures and affected their breeding cycles. Light pollution has stressed populations and damaged their navigation of the world. The invasive species have decimated the native species and further stressed populations. None of these causes are natural, they are all a result of human destruction.
The annoyance of insects is undeniable but so is the need for them. Without them, the ecosystem is bound to collapse. They are the very base of the food web and support countless animals. The full effects of their eradication is incalculable. Food systems are predicted to yield major crop losses and the skyrocketing of food prices. Human health will suffer a huge impact from nutrient deficiencies and have increased disease risk. Economically, the world will lose billions in agriculture.
Insects are so vital to the world and without them we risk too much. They are essential to our world and we must begin to stand up for them. It may be hard to believe that the tiniest creatures hold the greatest responsibility for sustaining life on Earth but it shows we must reinforce our dedication to them.
Leave a Reply