Beneficial and harmful INVERTEBRATES (and vertebrates)

BENEFITS OF INVERTEBRATES

RAW MATERIALS. beewax and oyster perls

BIODIVERSE HABITATS: coral reefs

PROTECTION FROM HARMFUL INSECTS

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) was very important for genetic experiments.

 

RECYCLING ORGANIC MATTER: earthworms and some beetles feed on organic matter and help to improve soil fertility.

HARM CAUSED BY INVERTEBRATES

...and termites DAMAGE WOOD