This book discusses the beneficial and harmful effects of insects and explains their
development and significance for biodiversity.Threatening pests or threatened beneficials?
Biting midges are wonderful insects. The animals are so tiny and uniquely shaped that they are
particularly good at pollinating the small and tight flowers of the cocoa tree. Without them
there would be much less chocolate. We associate other insects more with the damage that they
cause. Mosquitoes and wasps bite us. Moth larvae damage textiles and contaminate foods. Ants
undermine our paths and flies are just a pain.But what exactly is our relationship with
insects? Are they more beneficial or harmful? What role do they play in the world? What are the
effects of climate change: Will the number of insects continue to increase?
