When it comes to Earth’s biodiversity, insects reign supreme as the most diverse and ecologically important group of organisms on our planet. From the bustling rainforest canopies to hidden desert oases, insects provide essential ecosystem services that maintain life as we know it.

In this exploration of insect diversity, we’ll discover how these six-legged marvels have become nature’s most successful innovators.

“Insects” and “pests” have become almost synonymous in the modern world. Thus, when it comes to these tiny creatures, many people become squeamish and automatically associate ominous images of “pest”, “dirty”, and “infection”.

What follows these negative images are thoughts of “pest control”, “removal”, “exterminator”, “killer”, or words to essentially just get rid of them.