Don’t kill that fly: how to live sustainably with insects

In his most recent book, silent planet. The consequences of a world without insects , British biologist Dave Goulson imagines what life will be like in 2080, when the disappearance of bees, ladybugs and beetles will cause a food crisis across the planet. Added to this are large cities flooded and paralyzed by the irremediable rise in sea level, economies on land, epidemics and diseases spread without any control, while the Amazon and other jungles are devastated under the effect of the greenhouse effect. All because of climate change.

More than thirty years of experience make Goulson an eminence in terms of biodiversity in the world. Therefore, his book is understood more as a warning than a science fiction tale. Pollination, a fundamental process in food production, has until now depended on insects. In fact, around 30% of the world’s agricultural crops are supported thanks to them.

In an interview he gave to the Spanish newspaper The country , the biologist deepened his thesis. Asked what would happen if the insects disappeared, he replied: “We are going to have a very bad time. Millions of people will die for lack of food, countries will isolate themselves, international treaties will be broken…”. The journalist strikes back with some mischief, pointing out that no one would miss a mosquito invasion. To which Goulson replies: “It is precisely these plagues that will increase.”

Although about a million species of insects are recognized on the planet, their real number is estimated to be four to five times higher. And Goulson is not the only specialist concerned about its future or the consequences that a mass extinction could have on the planet.

“If actions to protect biodiversity and its environment are not carried out, it is possible that a scenario like the one described by Goulson will occur,” explains Luis Flores, director of the Institute of Entomology at the University. Metropolitan Institute of Educational Sciences. (UMCE).

In addition to pollination, Flores explains, insects provide important ecosystem services that directly or indirectly benefit humans: from controlling agricultural and forestry pests to breaking down organic matter, among others. “If threats to biodiversity persist, many insects are reducing their population size and are in danger of extinction. In both cases, the ecosystem is affected, and the forecast calculations are large in economic and social terms”, warns the entomologist.

The threats to biodiversity come from the same factors that have generated climate change, with humans being the main culprit. The pollution of the environment, the deforestation of native forests, the indiscriminate use of pesticides and the destruction of natural ecosystems due to the excessive growth of urban centers are aspects to which the United Nations (UN) has alerted. His plan is that by 2030, enough change will be generated to slow the already inevitable effects of this environmental catastrophe.

So far, 10,130 insect species have been described in Chile, representing 33% of the country’s native animals, more than any other class. Beetles, also called beetles, are the most numerous: according to the R. A. Philippi Foundation for Natural Studies 97 families of them are recognized, with 1,287 genera and 4,226 species, which corresponds to 30% of the total of insect species described in the national territory.

These figures are much lower than those collected by other countries, such as the United States, where more than 90,000 species are described. And this is strongly influenced by the situation and the geographical characteristics of Chile: the Andes mountain range, the desert and the ocean represent a kind of barrier which makes the entry of new species with colonizing claims extremely difficult. It is easier for invasive species to land from the air, such as the maple bug.

Ramón Rebolledo Ranz, a specialist in insect biodiversity in agricultural and forest environments and pest control with a focus on biological control at the University of La Frontera (UFRO), says that, for example, “bees are not not extinguished”. “Also, according to the SAG in Chile, we have 1.2 million bees and neither do the chinitas, despite the introduction of the chinita harlequin to the country.”

In any case, Rebolledo adds that climate change generates a redistribution of certain species throughout the territory. “The subterranean termite is a huge problem in the central area and is slowly progressing to other regions,” he illustrates.

The corner spider, another common species in the national territory – although it is not an insect but an arachnid – “is more important in the central area than in the south of Chile”. Cockroaches, on the other hand, are “more numerous in the north, where due to weather conditions they are everywhere, including in the street”. In the south, on the other hand, the pests appear “almost exclusively” in old buildings. “Something similar happens in insects that attack stored products,” explains Rebolledo: “There are more of them in the center and north of the country than in the south.”

“It doesn’t even kill a fly” is a common expression that shows how natural it is to kill insects. While it is very difficult to measure the impact of an individual action from home on biodiversity—it goes without saying that it is lower than that of other large-scale actions, such as construction on a wetland— , it seems essential to begin to become aware of the seriousness of the threat which is becoming more and more evident.

“It is important not to kill insects that do not represent any danger”, explains Luis Flores. “In the long term, the more frequent this behavior, the more impact it will have at the local level,” he adds. It should be considered, for example, that the bees, butterflies and flies that visit the flowers or the gardens of the houses are important for the reproduction of these plants.

“The vast majority of bee species do not live in hives, but rather in very small groups and build their nests on the ground, close to the plants they visit. So, if they are killed, the impact for the populations living in these urban environments is very significant”, explains the director of the Institute of Entomology at UMCE.

“The population must be educated, have the support of the media, of course schools, and we must leave places where the insects are only photographed. It would help a lot. Have, for example, butterfly farms and be very careful in the construction of buildings, in addition to regulating the application of pesticides only in places where insects are really a pest, such as agricultural crops, forestry, grasslands and other places,” explains Ramón Rebollédo.

In any case, the two specialists are more optimistic than Dave Goulson. Both understand that there is a growing concern about this, especially from girls, boys and young people, who seek to generate a respectful coexistence towards insects. “The future is brighter than we think,” says Rebolledo.

Although the species of insects that usually appear as stone guests in homes vary depending on the region of the country, the city and the environment in which they are found, the recommendations for building a “sustainable” coexistence are the same. And the most effective, respectful and responsible way to do this is to carry out a thorough and regular cleaning. Dirt is an invitation card for flies, ants, spiders or cockroaches, to name a few, to enter the house in search of food and/or shelter.

“The main solution is intensive cleaning, checking behind tables, beds and nightstands for the presence of spiders or moths. In the past, wax was used on floors, which served very well to control fleas and other problems,” says Rebolledo.

In addition to cleaning, the “constant and efficient” disposal of organic waste and garbage of all kinds, the repair of structural cracks, as well as keeping windows and doors closed for a large part of the day and night are essential. . “If you still see non-dangerous insects inside the houses, the ideal would be to remove them. For example, with a broom or, using small brushes, put them in jars or boxes and then take them outside”.

On the other hand, if you are in the presence of insects that can cause discomfort or definitely cause problems, and they are also found in abundant quantities – such as too many cockroaches in a building – the recommendation is to detect the origin of the problem and take short and long-term measures, “such as eliminating the source of insect propagation and then carrying out permanent cleaning to prevent further proliferation”.

Inside houses located in rural areas or near environments where nature predominates over urbanization, the probability of finding insects increases. “It is also very likely that these insects are native and do not represent any danger”, specifies the entomologist. Therefore, the ideal is to try to remove them properly – as mentioned above: with a broom or with the help of a shovel.

From now on, if high-risk insects, such as yellow jacket wasps — which is also an introduced and non-native species — appear frequently and in large numbers, it is advisable to contact a professional, either a pest control company, or from the same municipality. “You should inspect the area around the house for a nest that can be eliminated,” says Flores.

On the other hand, Rebolledo assures that a well-maintained house “with paints or varnishes” has fewer problems against xylophagous insects, such as termites, capable of destroying an interior or exterior wall. Plus, he says, the underground threat of termites can be controlled with a concrete floor.

Rebolledo presents a fairly simple homemade trick: put a few drops of lavender in hot water and use the solution to clean the cabinets. These insects generally avoid strong smells, so this technique is very effective. At the same time, it is essential not to leave food residues, such as leftover sugar and old flour, among others.

“Of course, if you don’t take care of a thorough cleaning, or if you don’t keep the house well inside and out, insects and spiders, and even dust mites, can become a real puzzle”, concludes Rebolledo.