Fed II Star - April 9, 2006

REAL LIFE NEWS: THE VALUE OF INSECTS

Stop! Before you s quish that bug that's just landed on your arm, you need to be aware that it is a valuable creature. Well, maybe not on its own, but experts have calculated that the services that insects collectively provide to the United States are worth a whopping $57 billion.

Yes, it sounds wacky, but entemologists from Cornell University found that native insects provide food for wildlife which in turn support a $50 billion recreation industry. Insects also generate more than $4.5 billion in pest control, pollinate $3 billion in crops and clean up grazing lands, saving ranchers a whole packet of dollars too.

The study has been published in the journal BioScience. Co-author John Losey said, "Most insects tirelessly perform functions that improve our environment and lives in ways that scientists are only beginning to understand. Don't let the insects' small stature fool you - these minute marvels provide valuable services."

Mind you, if you factor in the damage nasty insects do, such as cockroaches or disease-carrying mosquitoes, then I expect that value would go down considerably!