Insects as Pests

Abstract

Old pictures and texts show that man has been defending himself against fleas, lice, mosquitoes, wasps, and other insects since 4000 years. The damage to humans caused by insects is diverse. It ranges from slight impairments such as unpleasant odors caused by cockroaches or sounds caused by mosquitoes and flies to painful wasps stings and serious, potentially fatal diseases. Very few insects, e.g., head and body lice, are even dependent on human or animal hosts as a «constant parasite». Insects are a serious threat not only to humans, but also to animals. These include animals in the wild, e.g., deer, hares, birds, livestock such as cows, sheep or cattle, and pets such as dogs and cats. They are all tormented, bitten and sometimes also infected by parasites. The diseases can lead to animal epidemics, reductions in entire populations, or also cases of zoonosis, where the disease is also transmitted to humans. Insects have always fed on plants and, therefore, impeded their growth or even caused their death. Stories thousands of years old tell about menacing locusts, caterpillars, and beetles. The Bible also mentions examples of how insects interfere with field agriculture and destroy reserves.