The cicada is a well-known Australian insect which announces summer. (Photo: Creative Commons)
Story by Gabiann Marin
There is an army of hard-working environmental warriors all around us: in soil, on plants, in the air and in the water. Insects are our hidden allies. They protect, develop and maintain our natural environments, and yet their contribution is so often misunderstood, ignored or actively maligned.
Key Points:
- Healthy soils and abundant gardens rely on a diversity of insects.
- Broad spectrum pesticides eradicate all beneficial insects as well as having a negative and even deadly effect on other creatures.
- Dr Kate Umbers and the organisation Invertebrates Australia are working to help educate communities to eradicate pesticides and appreciate insects and their contributions to human and environmental health.
You can have a thriving, beautiful garden, without pesticides, by simply restoring your garden’s natural balance.
Sure, no one likes to get a mozzie bite, and the idea of having a tick on us might make many people shiver in disgust: but each and every insect in our environment has an important purpose, even if we can’t see it.
Springwood resident Dr Kate Umbers, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Western Sydney University, is someone who does see the magic and beauty in our invertebrates, dedicating her life to studying and helping to conserve them.
Australian Christmas Beetles have suffered declines in recent years. (Photo courtesy Invertebrates Australia)
“I am very lucky to live in the Blue Mountains,” Kate says, “because it’s an absolute refugium in a wasteland of urban sprawl to the east, and agricultural intensification to the west. A little green sanctuary; little relative to the size of Australia, but it’s a relatively large patch overall. Probably there are species of insect here that are nowhere else. But you know, nobody knows, because we just haven’t spent enough time looking at insects in general. But I think the Blue Mountains are like a representative of what diversity would have existed across all of Sydney if we had kept it more in its natural state.”
Dr Kate Umbers wants to help change the way we think about insects in our gardens (Photo courtesy Dr Kate Umbers)
Although Kate has a doctorate in Zoology, she quickly began specialising in invertebrates, particularly insects, because, as she herself states, “That’s where all the real discoveries can be found.”
Indeed, despite making up the vast majority of animal life on earth, insects are poorly researched and remain somewhat misunderstood more generally, particularly in the public sphere.
“In Australia, there are probably about 300,000 different species of insect but only about 100,000 of those even have a formal description. So we don’t even know what is out there.” Dr Umbers sighs as she explains that her own research has had to shift from looking at the macro populations to focus on those insects which are in most need of protection. “I’ve started just focusing on species conservation and wondering which ones are in the most trouble. And how we can motivate people to care about them.”
Invertebrates make up a staggering 95% of animal species on Earth. If we only focus on recording observations of birds and mammals, or even reptiles, or frogs, we only get the picture that represents 5% of all animals. And that means that we’re probably not thinking about insects and insect conservation in a way that is likely to lead to good outcomes for all animals, including humans.
Recent interest in bee colony conservation has helped change the way we view insects more generally (Photo: Creative Commons)
Insects in decline
Recently, information about bee colony collapses and the decline of Christmas beetle numbers in Australia have started to make news and there is more interest in doing something to help these animals, but Kate believes that focusing just on one species will not solve the bigger problems that insect declines could cause.
All species of insects have a key role in the health of our planet, providing invaluable assistance in everything from pollination of flowers and aerating and maintaining healthy soil, to eradicating waste and litter in the natural environment; and of course, providing an important food source for other animals in the food chain.
Natural waste removers
Insects are natural waste removers and could be a huge ally in confronting the current problem of ever-increasing organic waste. Backyard worm farms and compost bins have been providing individual household solutions for decades, but it has now been shown that insects are able to deal with industrial and community waste issues.
Fly larvae can eat high levels of organic waste. These maggots can eat through waste in specially designed containers before developing into adult black soldier flies.
The black soldier fly larvae convert organic waste into high-quality nutrients for pet foods, fish and poultry feeds, without any emission creation. Once the fly has matured through its own lifecycle it is added to the highly nutrient rich soil by-product which nourishes plants and gardens. It’s an elegant and effective idea. Find out more here.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae are amazing organic waste managers and are starting to be utilised in large waste reduction projects. (Photo: Creative Commons)
The problem with pesticides
Insects get a lot of bad press. Even as the world is starting to understand the importance of thriving bee populations, the idea that most other insects are simply pests continues to dominate our thinking, leading to some truly concerning household and industrial responses to their existence: including mass use of broad spectrum pesticides.
Broad spectrum pesticides don’t discriminate, killing every insect that may visit your garden, which ironically can lead to an increase in the less beneficial insects like flies, mozzies and cockroaches. This is because the best way to keep insects in check is to have a healthy balanced garden ecosystem where the insects, birdlife and mammals all work together to create a system which is beneficial to all animals and plant species.
By knocking this system out of balance through spraying pesticides across our rose bushes or lawns, the overall health of the garden diminishes. Disastrous events like the recent deaths of hundreds of native crayfish in Hazelbrook have been linked to pesticide accidents.
Dead crayfish found after the bifenthrin contamination at a tributary to Hazelbrook Creek, 2023. (Photo: Amy St Lawrence)
To try and help promote the reduction and ultimate eradication of broad spectrum insecticides, Kate and her colleagues at Invertebrates Australia have developed the No Spray Spring initative. “Every year we run a campaign that helps educate everyone about the negative effects of pesticides, and promotes more natural and healthier alternatives to spraying,” Kate explains.
Getting people to give up their pesticides has proven tricky, as the major challenge to promoting insect conservation is the highly developed instinct by most to equate insects with something negative, dirty or dangerous.
“Most people don’t think about it, they just react. Whether it’s, ‘I don’t want it on me’, ‘I don’t want it in my house, or in my garden’, people determine good and bad insects in ways they don’t with other animal types.” But the whole idea of good and bad bugs is probably a bit misguided, Kate suggests, “as every insect has a necessary role in the ecosystem.”
The 5 minute pet
One cool concept Kate has suggested to try and combat this instinctive negative reaction is to think of insects not as invaders to the home or garden, but as what Kate calls “The 5 minute pet”. The idea is when you encounter an insect, instead of trying to kill it, allow yourself to watch it for a few minutes.
Watching insects in our surroundings and thinking of them as our ‘5 minute pets’ can help remove the prejudice we often feel against them. (Photo: Creative Commons)
“Just sit to see what it does,” Kate suggests. “It doesn’t have to be five minutes, but just sit with it for even 30 seconds or a minute. It’s the same as sitting with any anxiety really, to try to pull that reactivity down. Gather some real data about how the world works around you. These insects aren’t out to get you. They are just doing their thing, hanging out, and probably doing you a service you didn’t even realise they were doing.”
Insects as wildlife
The 5 minute pet isn’t the only way to develop your appreciation for the insects around you. Remember how exciting it is to have a lorikeet or a koala visit your garden. Sharing your space with a wild animal is an amazing experience. Well, insects are wildlife too. Having a native bee buzzing around the lilly pilly or a brightly coloured butterfly fluttering through the vegetable garden can be an extraordinary and simple way to connect with nature.
“Try to reframe insects as wild animals, wildlife, you know, not pests and bugs, not infiltrating your world, but visiting you in your garden; giving you a wonderful opportunity to see a wild creature in its natural habitat,” Kate suggests.
Dr Umbers reminds us that having wildlife in our gardens is a wonderful gift, and insects are wildlife just like possums, wallabies or turtles. (Photo: Creative Commons)
By normalising the existence of insects around us, we are less likely to automatically react with a negative response. We could start to appreciate the joys of sitting and having a cup of coffee and watching a butterfly visit a flower and maybe begin to understand that our desire for a perfectly manicured garden isn’t a justification for the significant damage to biodiversity pesticides are causing.
“By appreciating the role and importance of every insect in our garden we might be willing to say, well, you know, maybe I won’t get 2 kilos of tomatoes this year, maybe I’ll get 1.8 kilos, but I’ll be maintaining the biodiversity of not just my garden but the whole of the National Park where I love to live. So maybe that’s a pretty good trade-off,“ Kate suggests.
Jewel Beetles are like works of art in the garden. (Photo: Creative Commons)
Take Action:
- Eradicate the use of insecticides, particularly one-spray-kills-all broad spectrum pesticides. If you want to have a thriving beautiful garden, this can be achieved without pesticides, simply by allowing the natural balance to come back. If you must use any, limit the use to small amounts carefully directed in specific areas.
- Use natural barriers rather than insecticides. Food crops and flowers can be protected through nettings or natural barriers, such as egg shells or coffee grounds at the stems of plants to stop snails, caterpillars and other insects from eating your plants.
- Plant a diversity of flowers. All insects benefit from an array of flowers. Native is the best option but any flowering plant will provide food for a variety of pollinators and beneficial insects. Having flowers that bloom across different seasons will help sustain hoverflies and other insects who are active in the colder months.
- Create natural garden areas. Lawns are insect deserts and also soak up a huge amount of water, so keeping them to a minimum will save you money and help support native insects and other animals. Keeping parts of your garden as natural as possible will provide food and shelter for insects and help them flourish.
- Allow leaf litter and fallen branches to remain on the ground to provide habitat.
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This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
More from around the region
Civil engineer Mark Liebman has worked closely with the Planetary Health Centre to explore ways we can manage water to reduce the impact of severe weather events, from flood to bushfire. At Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March he`ll be giving a presentation and tour of the Centre`s Bushfire Sprinkler Demonstration Wall and the prototype of an underground water tank that could be built at the end of flame zone streets around the perimeter of the City to reduce both stormwater and fire damage. Our video of the Bushfire Sprinkler system has already been helping survivors of the Palisades fire in the US prepare for future fire events. In this week`s story for Blackheath Area Local News you can also read about the green roof Mark built on his garden shed to reduce the impact of extreme weather events at his home in Blackheath. You can see all the videos and reserve a place for Mark`s talk at Planetary Health Day here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/future-proofing-with-community-water-tanks-and-bushfire-sprinkler-systems-tickets-1255928087719
#bushfiresprinklersystem #watertanks #disasterriskreduction #stormwater #bushfire #greenroof #planetaryhealth #katoomba #blackheath #bluemountains #beprepared
Our popular Upcycling Fashion Program has now been running for over a year! Come and check it out at Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March. As well, you can build your skills to reduce textile and plastic waste by sewing your own Boomerang Bag with @bbagsbluemtns , joining the Repair Network and learning darning with Elizabeth from @lacebrookstitchery Elizabeth has been studying how people upcycled and mended clothing throughout the centuries. She`ll be demonstrating some basic darning stitches that can be used on woven and knitted garments. She also shares her passion for the timeless crafts of stitchery, crochet, knitting, Victorian lacemaking, and darning skills, through her classes and workshops. You can find out more at www.lacebrookstitchery.com.
NB. There will now be a $10 cost to participate in the Upcycling Fashion Program with pattern maker Sherlie McMillan. Book your place here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashion-upcycling-program-on-skillshare-saturdays-tickets-1254329957669
#repair #repairnetwork #upcycledfashion #reducingtextilewaste #reducingplasticwaste #boomerangbags #learntosew #patternmaking #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #community
Our homes profoundly influence our lives, our health & the health of the planet. At Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March, Kirstie Wulf & Karina Rafailov will share their extensive experience in the session: Building Smarter Using Passive House Design & Natural Building Materials. Kirstie Wulf is the award-winning founder of @shelter.building.design & spoke to a packed room last year about building fire resistant homes with hempcrete. Karina Rafailov is the founder of @earthy_haus & specialises in creating energy-efficient, healthy, & nature-connected spaces.
You can reserve a place for this inspiring presentation here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/building-smarter-using-passive-house-design-natural-building-materials-tickets-1235896873819
#buildingsmarter #passivhaus #naturalbuildingmaterials #hempcrete #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains
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The options that are there for individuals and communities and society as a whole will be examined. An example of a viable energy system constructed with nickel iron batteries at Middle Earth in the Kanimbla Valley will be briefly presented. But is that approach viable for the larger community?
There is no simple way to address all of the issues. How can individuals operate in this energy environment? How do we maintain a healthy industrial sector? What are the Planetary implications of all this?
Whilst not attempting to provide answers, some food for thought will be presented. If you’d like to attend this presentation, reserve your place here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/prof-hans-coster-on-life-energy-middle-earth-nickel-iron-batteries-tickets-1235955960549
#energy #life #nickelironbatteries #evolution #science #physics #planetaryhealth #middleearth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #kanimblavalley #inspiration
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@firehalo.au @sharktankau #firehalo #bushfire #disasterriskreduction #emberattack #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #bluemountains #lithgow #katoomba
We had a fabulous day at the launch of the Birds of Australia STORYBOX in Springwood yesterday, giving everyone a preview of our Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition that will be on display at Planetary Health Day on 1 March. Our exhibition of Birds by Warren Hinder, Merryl Watkins and Holly Kent is now on display at Springwood. Worth checking out! If you`d like to find out more about all the frogs of the Blue Mountains, and come to Planetary Health Day you can register at the link in our profile. #birdsofthebluemountains #frogsofthebluemountains #frogs #birds #bluemountains #springwood #katoomba #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday
If you weren`t able to catch our fabulous exhibition of Bird Photography by Warren Hinder, Holly Kent and Merryl Watkins you can now pop down to the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub where they`re on display to complement The Birds of Australia STORYBOX. We`ll be there sharing information about the Planetary Health Centre for the launch today from 10am to 12 noon. Lots happening for the whole family: presentations with the Australian Museum and STUDIO ESEM, WIRES, Wagana Dancers, a replica of Gould`s book in the library, Craft activities, environmental information stalls and more! Come along and say hello.
#planetaryhealth #birdsofaustralia #springwood #bluemountains #birdsofbluemountains
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#plantinspired #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #planetaryhealthcentre #newcookingtechniques
Timber is one of our most valuable resources but too often, when a tree comes down, people only think of turning it into wood chip or firewood instead of much higher value timber products that can last as long as the tree took to grow! Come along to Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March and be inspired by how Michael Trickett can bring his mobile sawmill to you and produce high value timber for building or furniture making. Reserve your spot for Planetary Health Day here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#timber #mobilesawmill #planetaryhealth #trees #morethanwoodchip #morethanfirewood #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains
Have you been hearing frogs in your yard or neighbourhood? One of the highlights of our upcoming Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March is our exhibition of Frogs of the Blue Mountains. We`ll have photos of all the known frogs of the Blue Mountains with links to their calls and we`re thrilled that Britt Mitchell from the @australianmuseum will share her experience as a frog call validator for the Museum`s FrogID project. She will discuss how FrogID has assisted her PhD research: “Australia’s frog species in the Anthropocene – habitat loss, climate change, behaviour, and disease”, the positive impact FrogID is making and how to get involved with this Citizen Science project. If you`d like to hear Britt speak you can reserve a place here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/frogid-people-powered-frog-conservation-tickets-1235831287649
The photo of the frog below is by Holly Kent and features in the exhibition.
@frogidaus #frogs #treefrogs #frogsofthebluemountains #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #citizenscience #katoomba #bluemountains #familyday
Planetary Health Day is coming up on 1 March. SAVE THE DATE! We all need a Planetary Health Day where we can connect with community, have fun, get inspired, buy fresh local produce and learn ways to work together to restore the health of our planet and prepare for a more challenging future.
Check out our program and book to come along here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #community #beprepared #conservation #restoration #repair #localproduce #mobilesawmill #frogID #plantbased #bushfire #disasterriskreduction #firehalo
