Did you see an insect today?
When was the last time you'd noticed an insect? A minute before or some weeks before? And where'd you seen it? I suppose you are trying to recollect the encounter. Well, not all, but most of us are oblivious to insects. We've hardly noticed them around us. And to be honest, I was such a person too until I read the May 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine.
Thank to my scheduled magazine reading habit, I get to read about many things around the world. One such topic is nature and so I am a subscriber of NatGeo magazine. So, what's so special about the May 2020 issue? It was not special but it was dolorous reading the featured article about Insects and their declining population around the world due to climate change.
Insects play crucial role in our environment no matter which corner of the world you live in. When I was a kid, I used to play with them and even kill them for fun; I am ashamed for that act and feel remorseful now. They get attracted to light. They appear at day, evening and night. They are everywhere. But if you had observed carefully, they are disappearing slowly.
Only after reading the article on NatGeo I realized this is indeed true. There aren't much insects around us now. I can hardly see honey bees anywhere. Of course, there are spiders at every corner of my house. I see a couple of dragon flies ensuing a rainy day. Do I remember seeing a butterfly recently? No! How bad is this I ruminate when I realize that this wasn't the case ten years before.
Now, think about other species which feeds on insects: birds, frogs, etc. They will start to disappear with them as well. What the future holds I do not know; Only time will answer. But the point I wanna make is, next time when you notice an insect flying into your home or around your home, don't chase it away. Don't turn your back and walk away either. Welcome them, embrace them, enjoy watching them, and give them their space and recognition they yearn for.
Read the National Geographic featured article about insects here: