The Smithsonian Institute estimates there are 10 at any given time quintillion insects living on planet earth doing insect things. Some of them are beneficial to our ecosystem. For example, bees pollinate flowers, while others, like praying mantises and ladybugs, feed on other pests, such as aphids, which can destroy your vegetable garden or other plants. But, like almost everything else on this planet we live on, for every good thing, there are bad things that have no other purpose than to destroy everything in their path. Insects are no different, and according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), some species of these insects that live in Indiana should be dealt with if you come face-to-face with them.
7 invasive insect species in Indiana that can damage crops and other plants
Invasive species, in this case insects, are species that are not native to the United States. They often enter the country by hitching a ride on agricultural imports from other countries. Some types of grass and other plants are also considered invasive species. Although the USDA has inspectors whose job it is to try to catch them as they enter the country and destroy them before they have a chance to spread, it is impossible to catch them all.
USDA estimates that the cost of lost crop and forest production due to invasive species is about $40 a billion every year This figure does not include the amount of money spent by farmers and government agencies to try to eradicate the species once it is found in a given area.
7 Indiana Invasive Insects You Should Kill Immediately If You See Them
[Sources: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service / Smithsonian Institute / Brittanica / Indiana Department of Natural Resources]
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