A new study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity on Wednesday indicates that insects provide critical functions beyond being a food source for many vertebrates. These functions include protection, sanitation, and shelter across various ecosystems.
The research, led by Eliza Grames, an assistant professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York, details numerous ways vertebrates rely on insects. Examples include chimpanzees using insects to treat open wounds and over 200 bird species utilising ants for parasite removal or feather maintenance. Some birds also build nests near stinging insects, possibly for protection from predators.
Insects also offer shelter, with birds, reptiles, and mammals using termite mounds and ant nests for stable temperatures and humidity. Dung beetles act as sanitation workers by removing animal waste, which can reduce parasite survival, while moths in bird nests consume debris. These roles have been performed for millions of years, with evidence of beetles feeding on feathers in dinosaur nests during the Cretaceous period.
The study suggests that these often-overlooked relationships could become increasingly important as insect communities evolve. Grames described the study as a "wake-up call for anyone concerned about the biodiversity crisis," emphasising the need to prioritise insect conservation to benefit other species.