Is there really a need for insects to exist?

[Orlong]

I cant seem to come up with any reason for insects other than for a food source. Anything that eats insects could just eat something else if they didnt exist. I see no good reason for them to exist as all they do is annoy us. They make our cars dirty, sneak into our homes, destroy our crops, spread diseases, poison us if they are toxic, and are generally an annoyance as they buzz past our ears and fly into our eyes. Why cant we just eradicate all insects? All we would have to do is spray for them like they do near rivers for mosquitos and black flies. They could spray everywhere for all bugs and eliminate them once and for all.

[Aliessil]

Here's a few:

http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nm...o/benefits.htm

[Volitar]

Food chain. You can't just say "why can't they eat something else". That's like saying why can't humans just evolve to not need legs and fly.

[Taurenburger]

Yes there is:
- Bees and butterflies are some of the pollinators for certain plants.
- Certain insects are detrivores and clean up all dead organic material.
- Certain insects make materials we could consume (honey, silk, wax, etc.)

[Donald Hellscream]

well....... flowers and bees and stuff, besides they are a part of the eco-system.

[Garnier Fructis]

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125636

Could have just searched on Google if you were really interested in an answer. It doesn't seem like you couldn't find a reason so much as you didn't want to find a reason.

[prwraith]

I was shocked that anyone suggested this. Dear god a world without insects, we'd have a lot of problems.

[Deleted]

Seriously? Please read a book or something on the subject; before posting something this inane ignorant...

[Chirri]

Considering how abundant bugs are, and the apparent cost and effort spent on growing food people eat more commonly... why the hell doesn't humanity switch to a more bug-rich diet?

Screw over other species, which in turn would screw over our own? Because we're feeling a bit squeamy over certain kinds of bugs? Oh, you.

[Endus]

I cant seem to come up with any reason for insects other than for a food source. Anything that eats insects could just eat something else if they didnt exist. I see no good reason for them to exist as all they do is annoy us. They make our cars dirty, sneak into our homes, destroy our crops, spread diseases, poison us if they are toxic, and are generally an annoyance as they buzz past our ears and fly into our eyes. Why cant we just eradicate all insects? All we would have to do is spray for them like they do near rivers for mosquitos and black flies. They could spray everywhere for all bugs and eliminate them once and for all.

1> Because plenty of animals rely on insects for survival, as a food source. And plenty of other animals rely on THOSE animals as a food source. No, they couldn't "just eat something else".

2> Because insects are critical for the pollination of many plants. That's basically why flowers exist. Some species specialize as to which insects they attract, even. No insects, those plants die out, again leading to the deaths of the animals that rely on those plants, and the predators that rely on those animals, and so on.

3> They're a critical part of the decomposition process. No insects, no soil, basically. Not only do they help break things down, they also help aerate and disturb the soil in natural environments.

4> The vast majority aren't hurting you, and you being annoyed by them is not an argument for insect genocide. The vast majority of those which COULD be construed as "hurting you" are just a higher class of annoyance, not any actual threat.

Eliminating insects would basically mean the end of the entire biosphere. And if you were to become God and rework the biosphere to tick along without them, you'd almost certainly need to replace them with "nu-insects", which would be basically the exact same thing.

[Deleted]

Is there really a need for humans to exist?

[Deleted]

Insects are a really important part of the ecosystem. Remove humans and the Earth still prospers. Remove all insects and doom will follow.

[Gaman]

Insects are a really important part of the ecosystem. Remove humans and the Earth still prospers. Remove all insects and doom will follow.

Pretty much this, even tho I hate insects, i can understand the need for them. However its a kill on sight if i spot any in my house or on me if im outside.

[Deleted]

Is there any reason for cows to exists? since we can eat insects which are better for your health?

[BreathTaker]

But, there are possibly like a billion insects for each human being on this planet. They're at home here. Can you just go and mercilessly kill them?

[Deleted]

If you had done 2 minutes of research before posting, you would already understand just how important insects are. They pollinate plants; without them half the world would starve to death. They recycle decaying matter; without them the ground would be covered with putrid flesh. They form the basis of many food chains; certainly the first mammals(our ancestors) were insectivores. You only need to realize that 50% of all organisms are insects to appreciate just how vital they are to life on earth. If humans were to die off overnight, the world would go on just fine. If the insects were to go, certainly all the ecosystems on land would collapse.

Also, how do you propose we get rid of all the insects? There are millions upon millions of them and they are extremely resilient. The only way to ensure the destruction of all insects would be to obliterate the entire earth.

[Deleted]

If you had done 2 minutes of research before posting, you would already understand just how important insects are. They pollinate plants; without them half the world would starve to death. They recycle decaying matter; without them the ground would be covered with putrid flesh. They form the basis of many food chains; certainly the first mammals(our ancestors) were insectivores. You only need to realize that 50% of all organisms are insects to appreciate just how vital they are to life on earth. If humans were to die off overnight, the world would go on just fine. If the insects were to go, certainly all the ecosystems on land would collapse.

Also, how do you propose we get rid of all the insects? There are millions upon millions of them and they are extremely resilient. The only way to ensure the destruction of all insects would be to obliterate the entire earth.

Yep, Insects are ultimate survivors. Take roaches for example.

[Potente]

If you were able to remove one thing on earth and it turn to be a positive for the planet.... it would be humans

[Garnier Fructis]

If you were able to remove one thing on earth and it turn to be a positive for the planet.... it would be humans

Define positive.

[Deleted]

If you were able to remove one thing on earth and it turn to be a positive for the planet.... it would be humans

Agreed. Human activities are causing environmental and ecological devastation comparable with some of the most drastic mass extinctions ever.