Spare a thought for insects

The only invention man ever made which we insects do not have is money and he gives up everything else to get money and then discovers that it is not worth what he gave up to get it.

- Don Marquis

Insects are found in almost all parts of the world. They would have been inhabiting the earth long before humans appeared. However, the relationship between humans and insects has not been constant. In ancient civilisations, man lived in harmony with insects. He did not want to exterminate them for any reason. However, with the rapid industrialisation in many parts of the world, certain insects came to be considered a threat to humans.

Rachel L. Carson launched a moral crusade against pesticides

In the distant past, humans had a reverence for insects. On the other hand, insects too treated man in a friendly way. For instance, bees collected honey and allowed man to take it away. Ancient Egyptians believed that the sun god Ra created bees from his tears.

In Lithuania, bees were treated as sacred insects and they were not bought or sold. In certain parts of Europe, when a bee-keeper died, bees were informed of his death. It is said that bees gathered round the grave as a mark of respect to the bee-keeper. What is more, bees were revered in Asian, African and Australian cultures. Ancient people in such countries considered bees as symbols of regeneration and creation.

Beetles

Apart from bees, beetles had a close relationship with people from time immemorial. For instance, ancient Egyptians believed that beetles were a symbol of resurrection. More than 400,000 beetles had inhabited the world more than 350 million years ago. Humans did not find jewel beetles, lizard beetles, flea beetles, fungus beetles, leaf beetles or lady birds as a threat to their life. Unknown to many of us, beetles serve man through recycling waste.

The insect world is full of wonderful creatures. For instance, dragonflies are among nature’s wonderful creations. They occupy a special place in the Japanese culture. According to scientists, dragonflies had lived long before dinosaurs. Children love their acrobatics in air and try to catch them. Although dragonflies are rarely seen in the metropolis, in rural environs watching them is a pleasurable pastime.

Crickets

Most of us may not like the irritating sound made by crickets. However, they are lovable insects. Ancient Greeks and Chinese loved to hear the sound of crickets. The Chinese who lived before the Tang dynasty kept crickets as pets.

The earwig, popularly known as Kanveya, is a mysterious insect. Children and some adults believe that the earwig is capable of crawling into human ears and laying eggs in the brain! The well-known entomologist May Berenbaum has allayed such fears. According to her, earwigs have never been found in human ears!

Pesticides

Modern man does not have a friendly attitude towards insects. The invention of pesticides is evidence that man is at war with insects. Although mosquitoes and bugs are a real nuisance, most insects are doing a service to man.

If we keep the environment clean, mosquitoes will not breed and there won’t be any necessity to use pesticides.

Rachel L. Carson, in her path-breaking book Silent Spring, laid bare the fatal effects of toxic chemicals sprayed on insects and plants. She accused the pesticide industry of destroying the environment. The book clearly showed that the use of pesticides affects not only insects, but also all forms of life. As the book was published more than 50 years ago, most of us have forgotten its value.