Why Insects Deserve Your Attention

Insects represent more than 80 percent of all described animal species. They pollinate the fruits we buy in American grocery stores, aerate Midwestern soils, break down autumn leaf litter in New England, and sustain food webs from the Everglades to Yellowstone. Learning the fundamentals of entomology empowers naturalists, educators, and curious families to recognize these quiet partners in every habitat.

Defining an Insect

True insects share a three-part body (head, thorax, abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and antennae. Most adults also have wings, though groups like fleas and silverfish lost them over evolutionary time. Their exoskeleton—a thin but sturdy layer of chitin—acts like natural armor and must be shed each time the insect grows, a process called molting.

This body plan appears in countless variations. Beetles protect their wings with hardened forewings, while dragonflies lock their wings open for high-speed chases. Recognizing the common blueprint beneath that variety is the first step in any identification effort.

Why Insects Matter to Daily Life

Pollinators such as native bees, hoverflies, and moths support a third of the food crops grown in the United States. Dung beetles keep rangelands cleaner by burying animal waste, reducing fly outbreaks around cattle operations. Predatory insects—lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps—act as free pest management in gardens and orchards when we avoid unnecessary pesticides.

In short, insects are ecosystem engineers. Studying them teaches us how water quality, climate shifts, and land use decisions ripple through the environment.

How to Start Observing Like an Entomologist

Begin with the insects closest to home. Porch lights attract night-flying moths and beetles; milkweed patches teem with monarch caterpillars, aphids, and their predators; compost piles reveal decomposers at work. Carry a hand lens, take clear photos, and jot down habitat notes. Over time you will notice which species appear in spring rains, during hot July evenings, or after the first frost.

When identifying, look for three clues: body shape, mouthparts, and wing structure. These features usually place an insect into an order (such as Lepidoptera or Coleoptera) even before you know the exact species.

Insects may be small, but they offer an enormous portal into ecology, conservation, and climate science. By observing them carefully and sharing what you learn with community groups, classrooms, or local land managers, you contribute to a growing network of citizen scientists documenting the changing natural world.