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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Environment
Maya Yang

Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows

Two chimpanzees sit close together on the forest floor in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Chimpanzees have been observed applying insects to treat their open wounds. Photograph: Juergen Ritterbach/Alamy

For many vertebrates, insects are more than a food source. As “little things that run the world”, insects provide critical functions such as protection, sanitation and shelter across ecosystems, according to a new study.

The study, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity on Wednesday, sheds light on the various ways insects support vertebrates, ranging from birds and bats to reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

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