Why Every Fly Counts

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

   Pages 1-8

3. Insects as Beneficials

   • Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

   Pages 9-40

4. Insects as Pests

   • Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

   Pages 41-75

5. Insects Today and in the Future

   • Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

   Pages 77-98

6. Conclusion: Hated, Threatened, and Worth Protecting

   • Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

   Pages 99-100

7. Back Matter

   Pages 101-111

   PDF

This book discusses the beneficial and harmful effects of insects and explains their development and significance for biodiversity.
Threatening pests or threatened beneficials? Biting midges are wonderful insects. The animals are so tiny and uniquely shaped that they are particularly good at pollinating the small and tight flowers of the cocoa tree. Without them, there would be much less chocolate. We associate other insects more with the damage that they cause. Mosquitoes and wasps bite us. Moth larvae damage textiles and contaminate foods. Ants undermine our paths and flies are just a pain.But what exactly is our relationship with insects? Are they more beneficial or harmful? What role do they play in the world? What are the effects of climate change: Will the number of insects continue to increase?

• Insects
• Biodiversity
• Beneficials
• Pests
• Development
• Entomology

“Reckhaus, educated as an economist with biocide manufacturing as a vocation, offers readers a thoughtful consideration of what value they might assign to a fly. … The text is helpfully illustrated with color photographs; references are provided for each chapter, and a glossary can be found at the back. This is an excellent overview of insects by a citizen scientist. … Recommended for undergraduate collections.” (M. K. Harris, Choice, Vol. 56 (1), September, 2018)

• Teufen, Switzerland

  Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus

Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus pursued his studies in business administration at the University of St. Gallen, which he completed in 1993 by receiving his Dr. oec. He has headed Reckhaus GmbH & Co KG in Bielefeld since 1995 in the second generation as the executive manager. With the quality seal „Insect Respect“ launched in 2012, Reckhaus strives for sustainable transformation in his sector. He was awarded the German Visionary Prize for this in 2014. This globally unique compensation model was triggered by a dialog with the Swiss conceptual artists Frank and Patrik Riklin. They initiated the countermovement „saving instead of killing“ and in 2012, implemented the „Saving the flies“ action together with Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus. The entrepreneur regularly gives lectures and publishes about issues regarding SME leadership and sustainability. 

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