Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Harvesting Venom Toxins from Assassin Bugs and Other Heteropteran Insects
Published on: April 21, 2018
Pest-preservation paradox among insects
Michael J Samways1, Charl Deacon1, René Gaigher1
1Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
The pest-preservation paradox (PPP) reveals that most insect species exist on a spectrum, not as simply "good" or "bad." Understanding this spectrum is crucial for conservation and managing insect populations in changing environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Insects are crucial for terrestrial ecosystems, yet most species are understudied.
- A binary view of insects as
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the pest-preservation paradox (PPP) for a nuanced understanding of insect populations.
- To highlight the spectrum of insect status from pests to threatened species.
Main Methods:
- Literature review using Google Scholar Labs-assisted searches.
- Synthesis of existing research on insect population dynamics and traits.
Main Results:
- Identified a paradox where closely related insect species can be pests or require conservation.
- Highlighted the importance of genomic resilience, reproduction, feeding, dispersal, and establishment abilities in population shifts.
- Observed that some pest species thrive while others face extinction, even among previously abundant species.
Conclusions:
- The pest-preservation paradox (PPP) offers a more accurate framework than a binary good/bad perception of insects.
- Emphasizes the need to study the "silent majority" of insect species in the spectrum's center.
- Recognizes the dynamic nature of insect populations influenced by environmental changes and human modification.
More Related Videos
10:31A Proboscis Extension Response Protocol for Investigating Behavioral Plasticity in Insects: Application to Basic, Biomedical, and Agricultural Research
Published on: September 8, 2014
06:19Low-Cost Automated Flight Intercept Trap for the Temporal Sub-Sampling of Flying Insects Attracted to Artificial Light at Night
Published on: December 29, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Predator-Prey Interactions
Hypothesis: Accept or Fail to Reject?
There are two ways to indicate that the null hypothesis is not rejected. 'Accept' the null hypothesis and 'fail to...
Osmoregulation in Insects
Frequency-dependent Selection
Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores