One of the conference’s more unique sessions was enough to make your skin crawl, but was beneficial educationally. Extension Entomologist Nathan Hermond’s ‘The story of Insects” Ignite session included up-close images in bright and colorful pictures of various insects.
AgNR Extension Entomologist Nathan Hermond
“When you look at humans or mammals, you see they all have a similar look, but insects, you see they are a rainbow of different things,” Herman said as he zipped through his slides.
Hermond becomes a bridge between his audiences of school children, farmers, rural farmers, producers, or people who want to grow fruits and vegetables in their backyards. He says it’s crucial to understand insects and what they do despite the audience.
“It’s important for farmers to know when they pop up and when and how to manage them, so time is important,” he added.
Hermond’s presentation pulled back the veil on insects’ life cycles, from metamorphosis to pollination cycle and cascades. He said, if you like food, you need to understand that insects are important. “If you like chocolates, strawberries, watermelon, pollination will be important because these plants depend on pollination, and the more they’re pollinated, the better the flavor.”
Here are some facts from Hermond’s presentation:
Insect Uses:
1. Pollination, enhanced quality
2. Products, cosmetics and food sources
Insect Impacts:
1. Pollinators produce between $235 and $577 billion worth of Global Annual Food Supply
2. Honeybees are worth $20 billion
3. Monarch Butterflies are worth $5 billion in the Tomato Industry
4. Insects provide $4.5 billion worth of pest control
Tucker Wilson
Interim, Assistant Dir. IIC
tuwilson@pvamu.edu