It’s time to see eye to eye with an insect. They are everywhere and whether we like it or not, they are here to stay. And why shouldn’t we like it? They do so many nice things for us.
Everyone knows about pollination. Necessary for food crops, flowers and trees, we reap the rewards of an insect’s hard work every time we enjoy a peach or potato. Butterflies and bees get a lot of credit but flies, wasps and many other insects perform this job as well. Some species of magnolias and apples are pollinated by beetles.
Insects are tasty. Fish love them, birds love them and many frogs, lizards and other herps were made to eat them. Some mammals go their whole lives just eating insects (anteaters anyone?) Even insects eat other insects. And in many parts of the world, insects are eaten by humans.
Don’t forget the cleaners. Insects like the dung beetle keep our world looking and smelling like a place we want to live.
Take a closer look at the insects that live near your home. Find a spot outside, sit quietly and you will start to see them. Want to know which insects are hanging around at night? Hang a sheet with a light shining on one side. Come back a few hours after dark and find insects that have been attracted to the light.
For an insect close encounter, head to the Chattahoochee Nature Center for the Flying Colors Butterfly Festival, held Saturday, July 16 from 10am-3pm and Sunday, July 17 from noon-5pm. Over 500 butterflies will be released during the festival weekend. Admission to the festival is $10 per person and $8 for Chattahoochee Nature Center members. To find out about all of the fun events during the festival, visit www.chattnaturecenter.org.
