Utilitarian Use of Forest Insects

The focus of much of this book is a compendium of important insects that negatively impact individual trees and forest ecosystems in tropical West Africa. There is however, quite another perspective on forest insects that we will address in this chapter. Insects contribute to the human enterprise in many and varied ways. We have long since recognized the ecological role of insects as pollinators, cyclers of nutrients, and natural enemies. This is quite an extensive discussion that needs to be addressed in a venue beyond the scope of this book. The utilitarian use of forest insects is however a subject we have decided to address in the second edition because there is great potential for insects to contribute to basic human needs and the economic development of tropical countries in West Africa.