I recently posted on my journal about the relevancy of ‘bugs’ (loosely referring to all arthropods). I am curious about what talking points others use when talking about how important bugs are – to the ecosystem, to people, whatever.
Here are the talking points I’ve used before, but maybe they’re not hitting the right point: Bug diversity means plant diversity. Bug diversity means bird diversity. Bug diversity means healthy wildlife habitats. Healthy wildlife habitats mean more ecosystem services like clean air and clean water.
Reason for my curiosity: I’ve found myself ‘defending’ my interest in bugs – specifically for folks that may not ‘like’ bugs. I know I shouldn’t have to make everything anthropocentric, but honestly, that’s what the general public relates to the most – ‘what can these things do for me?’ That issue aside, I’m searching for some extra talking points - short and sweet - for why bugs should matter to everyone.
I do some interpreting for the public every now and then about bugs at work (I usually talk about robber flies, but I think this relates to all critters). One of the things that seems to hook people is when I tell the story of how the removal of wolves from Yellowstone literally changed the rivers. I find it’s a good way to impress upon people that once you start removing things it can throw the entire system out of whack in ways no one would’ve expected. I go on to say something like the big trouble with bugs is, without people paying attention we really don’t know what we’re losing and what the consequences will be and how there are species that have gone extinct in their lifetimes that likely no one has ever seen or will ever see and there’s really no way to know what we’re losing.
I tend to cheer on very species specifically, because I find it is harder to say, “I hate bugs!” once you have an exception or two. Then it moves to, “I dislike bugs,” which becomes harder when the exceptions are three or four or five. So to that end, I often point out the qualities in specific bugs, the same way I might laud a friend’s kindness or a neighbor’s generosity.
I like correcting the misheld belief that bees are the only pollinators; I have found people appreciate wasps, flies and others more when they realize they are often also pollinators.
Because my mind works kind of absurdly (definitely non-scientifically) sometimes I see things in a way that is different, and so sometimes I will hum the Imperial March.
I just kind of specifically defend each bug’s merits, the same way I would if someone were to speak unkindly of someone for whom I cared.
And the microcosm of hunters. Robber flies have already been mentioned. Thomisus spiders, waiting with Give me a Hug for lunch on pretty flowers - those spiders can change colours from white to pink or yellow etc. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59282-Thomisus
I’d stress the fact that most are specialized, or to put it more simply, “have a specific task they do”. How could an Insect, which only feeds on blahweed and cannot eat anything else, ever be a nuisance for humans? There’s only a very small number of critters where this specific task by coincidence interferes with our human needs. At least where I live, most critters aren’t even able to survive in houses.