Insects in culture

New insect species that started to appear lately in fields and agricultural lands and new invasive species might be seen in Turkey, an expert has warned.

Hasan Sevgili from Ordu University said that the invasion of desert grasshoppers, which has spread from Africa to the Turkish-Iraq-Iran border in recent years, may be a harbinger of climate change.

Turkey's local entrepreneur specialized in insect farming in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya produces cockroaches to meet the live feed needs of carnivores in the country's domestic market.

The Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden is the only place in Turkey where one can observe every phase of metamorphosis, from small larvae to colorful butterflies.

Due to the increased population of caterpillars, Vidin Municipality has taken measures for massive treatment against second-generation white American butterfly. On August 12, more than 900 trees were decontaminated in the most affected areas of the city.

We expect 50% less honey bee production this year compared to last year, Mayor of Tutrakan and beekeeper Dimitar Stefanov said in an interview with Focus News Agency. 

We all know Aesop's fable about the ant and the grasshopper: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and gathering supplies for winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool to work so hard while he sings the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed in his home, while the grasshopper goes hungry and dies of cold.

The international day acknowledging the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem is observed on 20 May, the birthday of Slovenian Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, born in 1734.

The number of insect-eating birds, such as beetles and caterpillars, has declined significantly in Europe over the past 25 years, according to a German study.
 
A 13% reduction in the number of insect-eating birds in Europe between 1990 and 2015 was registered.
 
The decline reflects a trend associated with a decline in the insect population.

AFP - Researchers have found a new way that global warming is bad for the planet: more hungry bugs.

Rising temperatures will stimulate insects' appetites -- and make some prone to reproducing more quickly -- spelling danger for key staples like wheat, corn and rice which feed billions of people, researchers said Thursday.

A pest species, dubbed "vampire butterfly," has spread to Istanbul from Black Sea regions due to human activities, causing concerns among locals and experts.