KindHarvest summary: Farms depend on many insects that pollinate crops, recycle organic matter or prey on pests. A 2022 report from Uganda highlighted why identifying and protecting those species matters for both production and biodiversity.
What the source reports
Researchers at Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda explained that only a small share of insect species cause crop damage. Bees, beetles, butterflies and flies contribute to pollination, while predators and parasitoids can reduce populations of crop pests.
The institute’s insect collection supports identification and research. At the time of the report, the museum held thousands of specimens across 17 insect orders, including material collected more than a century earlier.
Why it matters
Beneficial insects form part of integrated pest management. Habitat, flowering plants and careful pesticide timing can help conserve them, although the right strategy depends on the crop, pest pressure and local ecology.
Accurate identification is essential because an unfamiliar insect may be a pest, a pollinator or a natural enemy. Local extension and entomology services can help farmers make decisions before intervening.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team news brief is based on reporting by Lominda Afedraru for Daily Monitor, published 16 July 2022. Read the original Daily Monitor article.