Most Useless Insects or do Least for the Environment (List)

Today we are counting down picks for our 6 most useless insects that do the least for the environment and nature. Some insect species have nothing to do with nature or provide very little value to it. You have heard many times that no one is useless. Yes, that’s true, but it depends on the purpose of life. Even useless insects seem to have a purpose, but it is more in a destructive way rather than a beneficial manner.

Most Useless Insects or do Least for the Environment

1) Mosquitoes

Let’s begin our list with the most annoying insect, Mosquitoes. We all know why we have mentioned mosquitoes in our list.

These flying insects can infect us with various severe diseases like the Zika virus, yellow fever, dengue, and malaria that can take our lives. Also, mosquitoes can be found in nearly every part of the world.

Scientific Name: Culicidae

Only use: It is mentioned that mosquitoes are a so-called important source of food for larvae, birds, and other reptiles. But scientists believe if we wipe out all mosquitoes, new insect breeds will take their place.

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2) Gnats

Unlike mosquitoes, Gnats do not spread diseases and are not dangerous to humans. However, Larvae, when present in large numbers, can cause damage the house plants and young seedlings by feeding on their roots, which terminates the plants’ growth.

In a nutshell, they are neither dangerous to humans nor mother nature. But they also do not provide any value to the ecosystem.

Scientific Name: Diptera

Only use: Like other insects, Gnats only play a role as a food source for large insects and pollination.

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3) Flies (especially Housefly)

Flies are a species that is not universally loved because of their ability to spread diseases. All flies are known for spreading more than 200 known pathogens and parasites to humans.

For example, a common housefly can spread diseases such as food poisoning and dysentery. They have irritating buzzing sounds and are very unhygienic.

Not only this, if you notice, a common housefly always loves to fly from unhygienic places to the kitchen, where they purposely spread diseases. They encompass 90% of all fly infestations with more than 65 diseases.

Scientific Name: Musca domestica

Only Use: Spiders love to eat flies, and more than 110,000 fly species pollinate flowering plants.

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4) Fleas

When a Flea bites an animal, its saliva causes irritation and itching. Fleas are the most useless insects in mother nature that take advantage of our pets. They can live as long as 18 months, and once they reach adulthood, they seek out blood from other animals.

Fleas don’t have wings, but they have genitalia and claws. They are incredibly dangerous because they carry and spread diseases like bubonic plague, murine typhus, tularemia, and tungiasis. Many times, they are responsible for the death of our pets.

Scientific Name: Siphonaptera

Only use: Some reptiles and birds that feed on fleas get the benefits from the blood that they have sucked from the larger animals.

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5) Ticks

Like Fleas, Ticks are also very dangerous and useless insects in the environment. Not all ticks are harmful, but some species, like Deer Ticks and Wood Ticks, spread harmful diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

During winter, tick larvae transfer from vegetation to large mammals like moose, and at one time, thousands of ticks can stay on an animal throughout its winter lifecycle. Also, climatic change is beneficial for ticks leading them to increase their population and carry harmful diseases.

Scientific Name: Ixodida

Only use: Ticks serve as food for other animals like birds and help control wild animal populations.

But nowadays, the population of many wild animals is under Near Threatened; hence practically, ticks and fleas don’t provide any useful benefit to mother nature.

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6) Lice

Another useless insect on our list is Lice. They literally do not contribute anything useful in nature. Lice are parasitic insects that need human blood to survive.

They can be found on people’s scalps. Head Lice are not particularly harmful, but they cause itching and excessive scratching, leading to skin infections.

Scientific Name: Phthiraptera

Only use: Lice serve as food for ladybugs.

Here, we conclude our article on “most useless insects or do very Least for the Environment.” We hope you like it. We will be back with another post. Till then, stay tuned with us and read the articles below.

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Also Read:

• Top 10 Strongest Snakes in the World (2022)

• 15+ Plants that eat Animals

• Do Frogs Eat Ticks? | Tick Predators