What Will Happen If Flies Go Extinct?
WouterInsects are a vital part of our environment. They help us pollinate plants and make honey, so their extinction would cause a great deal of hardship. Without these creatures, our grocery shelves would be completely empty, and a number of other problems would arise.
While the reasons for insect decline are complex, habitat loss and climate change are two likely culprits. Although a total insect extinction is unlikely, the loss of insect diversity would be catastrophic. Insects are much less mobile than other animals, so they are more vulnerable to extinction.
Without insects, many ecosystems could collapse. For example, without bees and dermestids, ecosystems can be devastated. The consequences of insect extinction are also far-reaching. Mosquitoes, fruit flies, and house-flies are just a few of the many species that would be lost.
Flies are considered a pest where humans dwell, but they play a very important role in the natural ecosystem. Flies are important because they consume dead and decaying matter and return organic nutrients to the circulation. Flies are also beneficial to the environment, as they increase the amount of surface area that bacteria can consume.
A recent paper looked at the global warming effects on all kinds of insects and found a noticeable decline in most species. One species that was thought to be extinct until recently was the bone skipper fly, which feeds on the flesh of animals and comes out during the night.
