Insects, spiders are integral to environment, says expert

“Insects and spiders are among the most important elements of nature. Their role is integral to environment. Unfortunately, their role is least appreciated. They play an indispensable role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity and ensuring food security,” entomologist and founder-director of the Entomon Institute of Invertebrate Zoology, Pune, Ishan Pahade has said.He was delivering the sixth Fundamental Memorial Lecture on Wonders of the Insect World at the Mindwave Edu Hub auditorium in Dharwad on Sunday.“These tiny organisms form the foundation of healthy ecosystems by pollinating plants, recycling nutrients, controlling pests and serving as food for birds, amphibians and several other animals,” he said."Nearly three-fourths of flowering plants and a large share of agricultural crops depend on insects such as bees, butterflies, moths and beetles for pollination. Without them, the production of fruits, vegetables, oilseeds and several food crops will decline drastically, directly affecting biodiversity as well as human livelihoods,” he said.“They are also among the most effective natural predators in terrestrial ecosystems. There is need for greater public participation in documenting local insect and spider diversity through citizen science initiatives. Community-based surveys, photography, field observations and documentation can generate valuable biodiversity records that support research, conservation planning and biodiversity boards,” he said.Spider expert Atharva Kulkarni said that India is home to over 4,000 spider species but only about half are scientifically identified."Several species may have disappeared even before they were documented due to habitat loss and environmental degradation. Students and nature enthusiasts should participate in local documentation efforts to help conserve these overlooked species,” he said.Environmentalist and founder of Nature First Eco Village at Halligeri Panchakshari Hiremath said that the centre is developing specialised conservation gardens, including a frog habitat named Batracarium, along with gardens dedicated to rare butterflies, moths, spiders, bees and other insects to promote environmental education and biodiversity awareness.Gopal Kadekodi, S.M. Shivaprasad, Dheeraj Veeranagoudar and others spoke. Published - August 24, 2026 06:34 pm IST