Insects in ecosystems
Insects in ecosystems: the many roles insects play. Pollinators (bees, butterflies, hoverflies), decomposers (dung beetles, fly larvae), food source for birds, bats, fish, and frogs, and pest controllers (ladybirds eating aphids). The thought experiment: what would happen if all insects disappeared?
Teaching approaches
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1 approach
If you asked your child what would happen if all the insects in the world disappeared tomorrow, could they explain the chain of problems that would cause — for plants, animals, and people?
Insects in ecosystems: the many roles insects play. Pollinators (bees, butterflies, hoverflies), decomposers (dung beetles, fly larvae), food source for birds, bats, fish, and frogs, and pest controllers (ladybirds eating aphids). The thought experiment: what would happen if all insects disappeared?
Learning resources
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3 before · 2 after
Before
This concept
Check understanding
- Name at least three different ecological roles that insects play such as pollinator, decomposer, and food source
- Explain how the removal of one insect group like bees would affect plants, other animals, and humans
- Describe a specific example of insects as pest controllers such as ladybirds controlling aphid populations
“If you asked your child what would happen if all the insects in the world disappeared tomorrow, could they explain the chain of problems that would cause — for plants, animals, and people?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Insects & Minibeasts
- Age range
- Ages 9–11