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June 23rd 2008

National Insect Week – 23rd to 29th June 2008

National Insect Week provides the opportunity for people to learn more about the extraordinary and fascinating insects of Britain. They may be small and often over-looked, but insects are essential for the well-being of our planet. They undertake a remarkable variety of vital tasks, from disposing of dead vegetation, animal corpses and dung, to pollinating the flowers of plants that ultimately provide us with food and materials.

Insects are an incredibly successful group of animals, comprising around 85 percent of the total animal species that have so far been described and existing in an enormous range of habitats. With an estimated 200 million insects on this planet for every living person, it would appear essential that we learn more about, and show greater appreciation for, the animals that our lives are so intrinsically linked with. Here are just a few of the astonishing insects that are found in Britain…

image: Seven-spot ladybird feeding on pollen

The seven-spot ladybird is one of the most well-known and popular species of all British beetles. Both adults and larvae are voracious predators of aphids and are one of the gardener's greatest natural allies. Unfortunately, harlequin ladybirds, originally from Asia, have found their way to Britain and are rapidly spreading across the country. Not only does this invader have a huge appetite for aphids, leaving little for the seven-spot ladybird, they also prey on other ladybirds when food resources are low, threatening to wipe out our native species.

The larvae of the stag beetle live within rotting logs for up to four years before emerging as adults. As the beetle grubs take so long to develop, they become extremely vulnerable to tree clearance and the 'tidying up' of wood in parks and especially gardens; the over-zealous tidying of dead timber and stumps is thought to be the chief reason why this spectacular beetle seems to be in decline.

image: Male white-tailed bumblebee on sea holly

The white-tailed bumblebee differs from other bumblebees by, as its name suggests, its white tail, which can have a pinkish flush. Like other bumblebees, this species plays an incredibly important role in our everyday life; every third mouthful of food we eat is dependent upon the pollination services of bees. Worryingly, many British bumblebee species have undergone declines, largely as a result of changes in agricultural practices leading to a loss of suitable habitats and important food plants.

Britain's largest dragonfly, the emperor dragonfly, is a spectacular sight with its broad wings and powerful flight. Dragonflies feed on mosquitoes and midges so they can be beneficial to humans in reducing the numbers of these pests, which could also reduce the spread of disease. These beautiful insects are good indicators of water quality and healthy ecosystems as they are very vulnerable to water pollution. Dragonflies are also threatened by a loss of habitat due to the infilling of ponds and drainage of water bodies.

The dor beetle is just one of nature’s vast army of insect recyclers, playing an important role in returning the abundant nutrients found in animal dung to the soil. The biggest threat to these beetles is the use of a chemical worming treatment for grazing animals, which persists in their dung and kills the developing dung beetle larvae. Declines in dor beetles have had knock-on affects on the greater horseshoe bat, an Endangered species that commonly feeds on this beetle. As with so many threatened species, the solution to one problem frequently benefits other associated animals.

For further information on insects and National Insect Week see: