The Amazing World of Insects
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Date
2023-08-23
Authors
Kemabonta, K.A
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Publisher
University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Ltd.
Abstract
The world of insects is all around us. They epitomize the phrase ‘small but powerful’. They impact several decisions that we make. For example, no one wants to buy grains infested with
beetles or weevils, or vegetables that have been perforated by insects. Neither would you want to live in a house infested with ants or cockroaches or bedbugs. Insects have the capacity to
make or destroy an economy. An infestation of insects on a farm is capable of destroying hundreds of hectares of crops. Conversely, the greater the number of bees a honey farmer has,
the better the chances of business growth. Insects are prolific and impact all areas of our lives from the food that we eat to the disposal and or breakdown of our wastes. They are so integral to humans that they have been woven into the very fabric of our society, for example, our languages, manifesting in aphorisms and lessons about life. They serve as a testament to the interconnectivity of all things and the significance of fostering sustainable living, exemplifying the importance of preserving biodiversity. ‘If you think that you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.’ (African Proverb). Indeed it may be said that we live in the world of insects and not them in ours. They have whole communities and colonies, some have queens, with well-defined organisational structures and systems that have operated effectively for millennia. They are so amazing that the Bible in Proverbs 6:6-8 encourages us to learn from the ants. ‘Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Today, we will take a peep into this “Amazing World of Insects”.
Description
An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Lagos Delivered at the University of Lagos. Professor of Applied Entomology and Pest Management Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka
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Citation
Kemabonta, K.A (2023). The Amazing World of Insects. An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Lagos Delivered at the University of Lagos, 89p.