Insects play several important ecological, economic, and nutritional roles: 1) Ecologically, insects act as decomposers that break down organic material and enrich soil nutrients, and also serve as important pollinators and seed dispersers. 2) Economically, insects produce useful substances like honey, wax, silk and are used as fishing bait. 3) Insects are also a source of food for humans in some areas and provide protein, vitamins and minerals.

1. The Importance of Insects
1) Ecological Importance
2) Economic Importance
3) Insects as Food
4) Insects in Medicine

2. Ecological Importance
• Decomposers.
By recycling of dung, dead wood material
insects stimulate and accelerate breakdown of organic materials by such organisms as
soil mites, fungi and bacteria, enhancing soil fertility, reducing potential spread of
diseases, and increasing site utility. Borrowing insects mix organic and inorganic
material, increasing soil porosity and water-holding capacity.
Example:
termites (Isoptera) and cockroaches (Blattodea)
There are Different major ecosystem services provided by
insects:

3. • Pollinators
Many plants depend on insects as pollinators of their flowers, and
pollinators can be a limiting resource for them
honey bees lepidopterans

4. • Dispersal agents
Insects disperse seeds, transmit pathogenic agents, and even transport
other invertebrates from place to place (the phenomenon known as
phoresy). Ants are amongst the most important seed dispersers.

5. • Economic Importance
Insects have tremendous economic importance. Some insects produce useful
substances, such as honey, wax, lacquer, and silk
Adult insects, such as crickets, as well as insect larvae, are also commonly used
as fishing bait

6. Insects as Food
Insects, of course, are not just eaten by people. Insects are the sole food source
for many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, making their roles in food
chains and food webs extremely important
In some parts of the world, insects are used for food by humans. Insects are a rich
source of protein, vitamins, and minerals,
. Among the most popular are cicadas, locusts, mantises, grubs, caterpillars,
crickets, ants, and wasps

7. Insects in Medicine
Insects have also been used in medicine. In the past, fly larvae (maggots)
were used to treat wounds to prevent or stop gangrene

8. Summary
1. In the environment, some insects pollinate flowering plants.
2. Insects produce useful substances, such as honey, wax, lacquer, and silk.
3. Insects are food sources in some parts of the world.