Thanks to those of you who tuned in to our February Nature Night, The Importance of Insects. It was an educational and engaging presentation from Dr. Tara Cornelisse.

 You can watch a recording of her presentation here, and also peruse her slides and read some quick takeaways from her talk below.

If you have trouble viewing the slides from Dr. Cornelisse's presentation below, click here. 

 

The Importance of Insects Takeaways and Resources:
During her presentation, Dr. Tara Cornelisse shared a look at the vast and diverse world of insects sharing why they are important and what we can do to protect them. More than half of all animals described are insects. Tara shared “one reason insects are important is that there’s just so many of them!” Recent publications estimate that about 90% of insects might be unnamed. Because insects are such a diverse group of animals, their behaviors are also diverse lending to so many unique forms and functions in our world. From pollinating to seed dispersal and biocontrol, insects provide a wide range of benefits for human society and our well-being. Sadly they are also declining at alarming rates! According to the Center for Biological Diversity, "an estimated 41% of insect species are declining and could be at risk of extinction." From ants to bees, beetles and everything in between, we're experiencing what some are calling "an insect apocalypse." The good news? The actions we take locally can have major impacts.

 

What you can do:

• Keep your yard messy
  The first thing you can do is actually to do nothing at all! Keeping leaves and yard debris on the ground can provide critical overwintering habitat for insects. Set aside your rakes--for conservation!
  
  
• Provide habitat
  Then, you can actively work to create insect habitat too. Start by planting local native blooms like showy milkweed or learn what you'll need to create a home for bees in your own backyard.
  
  
• Turn off the lights
  Then, did you know city lights can have impacts on the natural cycles of local wildlife? The same is true for insects! Consider turning off your lights more often. Not only will you save yourself a dollar on energy, but you'll also help from keeping critical pollinators, like moths, from getting confused!
  
  
• Nix the neonicotinoids
  One of the major impacts on declining insect populations are pesticides. Avoiding insecticides (especially neonicotinoids that persist in soils and the plants) and chemical use in your gardens and yards is a great way to help insects. Plus, our Weed Warriors agree, weeding by hand can be great for the mind and body!
  
  
• Consider climate
  Just like many others, insect populations are feeling the pressures of a changing climate that is impacting their habitat and migrations. Get involved with our work to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Additional resources:

• Explore the latest updates on Tiger Beetles and other endangered insects in the Saving the Insects campaign by the Center for Biological Diversity. 
• Learn more about work being done to understand native bee populations with the Oregon Bee Atlas.
• Learn more about lighting bugs and Douglas Fir glowworm that is found in Oregon.
• Request your own showy milkweed seeds to plant at home!
• What about biocontrol? 

 

About Dr. Cornelisse
Dr. Tara Cornelisse is an insect conservation biologist and Senior Scientist with the Endangered Species Program at the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation nonprofit. At the Center, she is the resident entomologist and started the Saving the Insects campaign. Specifically, she works to get insects protected under the Endangered Species Act and on policy that advances insect conservation. She has conducted research on monarch butterfly habitat in urban areas, conservation of endangered tiger beetles, and on insect conservation education. She holds a PhD from the University of California Santa Cruz. Before joining the Center, she was a postdoctoral scholar at the American Museum of Natural History and an Assistant Professor in Animal behavior, Ecology, and Conservation at Canisius College. Her favorite insects are the Ohlone tiger beetle, dung beetles, and the yellow-faced bumble bee.

 

 Learn more:

• Monarch butterfly conservation in Central Oregon
• Bee boxes installed at Land Trust properties
• Tips for creating a pollinator garden
• Nature Nights, join us live for our next presentation!