160 Insects: Supplemental Guide 8A | Friend or Foe?
that feed on those insects are affected when they can no longer
fi nd enough food. Also, people build homes in the desert^13 and
not only destroy animal habitats, but also very quickly use up all
the water that the desert insects need to survive.
Show image 8A-14: Grassland and wetland
Grasslands are often cleared for planting crops. When the
grassland host plants disappear, their visiting insects cannot
survive. Water is often drained from wetlands to build farms,
homes, and roads. When this happens, fertilizers from the farmers’
fi elds often run into the wetlands and encourage plants there to
grow out of control. They soak up all the water and the wetland
dries up.
Show image 8A-15: Honeybee
So, why do you think it matters whether insects become
extinct? Isn’t it good to kill those often pesky, sometimes deadly,
critters? I don’t think so. Think about the honeybee. It may sting
you, but a moment’s pain is nothing compared to all the benefi ts it
provides by helping to pollinate plants and produce fruits or other
foods that you need to survive. We still have a lot to learn about
the insect world, but we do know that everything in our world is
connected, and that plants and animals depend upon one another
for survival. We do not want to upset the balance of nature.
Show image 8A-16: Looking at trees and looking at fl owers
Now that you know how important insects are to our world, I
hope that you will think twice before squashing a bug beneath
your feet. I encourage you to use your own schoolyard to look for
insects and spiders. Where might you look? Lots of places—under
a rock, in the grass, on bushes and trees, on fl owers, and in the
soil. Remember, many insects are very good at camoufl age, so
don’t give up. They may be hiding in plain sight.13 [Point to the image on the right.]