There's no power tonight! So we're going to do a brief overview about why insects are important! pic.twitter.com/boEeHGKp9D

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

Insects- frankly – are our main competitors for our food, our health, and our space. Photo (@Myrmecos) pic.twitter.com/sWIz0VGlWX

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

By studying their biology we can maintain our food security and improve our farming techniques. pic.twitter.com/xEUfx9CPzM

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

By studying insect biology we can pervent the spread of diseases. pic.twitter.com/f8L1b1N0lZ

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

By studying insect biology we can pervent the spread of diseases. pic.twitter.com/f8L1b1N0lZ

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

And by studying insect biology & understanding their biology we can help keep undesirable insects from invading our homes, schools, &hotels. pic.twitter.com/iWNZQ3cL6Z

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

By studying insect genes we can know more about us and possible ways to cure diseases. Fruit flies share about 58% of our genes pic.twitter.com/ktE7oR8MKE

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

We can improve out technology by studying insects. Our glow-sticks are possible b/c we studied firefly butts. (Ps. Fireflies are beetles) pic.twitter.com/Qcddl55pUn

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

It's the Fleas Knees! By studying an elastic protein found in flea knees called "Resalin" we're making more elastic and more durable rubber pic.twitter.com/4rNn0V3VH7

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

Insects might be our next food source! Lot's of protein and raising them is more environmentally and ethically friendly. Nomnomnom pic.twitter.com/KvWEsllmXX

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

Insects are ecosystem health indicators. By studying their response to environmental changes we can predict and resolve problems early! pic.twitter.com/iQsD5sKGU9

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

We'd be living in a trash pile w/o insects! They do so much decompositon. I know maggots look gross but not as bad as piled up dead stuff pic.twitter.com/oaUKP2z2aX

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

We can study this decomp process in Forensic Entomology to solve murder cases! How long has that guy been dead over there? Look at the flies pic.twitter.com/5UB6oShKS9

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

Insects are a great inspiration for our movies! The Sarlacc is based off of antlion behavior and Alien from parasitoid wasps. pic.twitter.com/kHBHfoPdJQ

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

Insects form important ecosystem linkages between predators and prey. Hosts and parasites. They're moderators of the ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/UIrM4xytan

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

And finally insects are important because they're beautiful members of our small blue planet that inspire awe and wonder. pic.twitter.com/jrg8gxag0z

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

If you enjoyed learning about bugs as much as this little stick insect liked learning about himself follow me @SciBugs for more bug stuff! pic.twitter.com/yEzx03lgeC

— realscientists (@realscientists) March 11, 2017

@realscientists @SciBugs I'd add that they are fantastic organisms for evolutionary study.

— John Kaltenbach (@JohnKaltenbach) March 11, 2017