#beneficial animals

[hedgewitchgarden]

Not all farm animals are cute and cuddly. Some of the most important animals on any farm can be slightly scary but have vital jobs farmers depend on.

When darkness falls across the farm, many think of cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and goats settling in the barn. But there is also a whole host of others —large and incredibly small animals going about their crucial roles to support the healthy functioning of our farms night and day. While many think of them only as creepy crawlies or predators of the night, the web of life is intricate. You might be astounded to learn more about these beneficial animals that help people and the crops we grow.

Take a farm’s soil, for example. Oozing with organisms—soil is the most biologically diverse part of the Earth. The soil on a farm includes thousands and thousands of beetles, springtails, mites, worms, spiders, ants, nematodes and other organisms. This multitude of soil organisms engineers pathways for rainwater, provides nutrients for plants and breaks down organic matter from previous crops.

These beneficial insects and soil creatures—and bigger predators that patrol the soil surface—provide checks and balances to the food web that makes farms fertile.

What may be most frightening is to imagine a world without these beasties fulfilling their roles on farms.

1. Earthworms

It’s hard to get the warm fuzzies for earthworms. They have no legs. They don’t have eyes or a face, and their bodies stretch like rubber. They secrete a slime—mucus—that helps them slide more easily through the soil. But these faceless fellows can be big friends to farmers.

Earthworms break up hard soil, create tunnels that allow air and water to penetrate better, and bring important minerals to the soil. Most of the 180+ species of earthworms in the U.S. bring great benefits to soil health on farms and can help improve fertilizer efficiency.

Indeed, some non-native species of earthworms can negatively affect the soils in some forests. But when it comes to farms, earthworms are friends. 

2. Millipedes

Their name comes from Latin, meaning “thousand legs.” As it turns out, no known millipede species has a thousand legs. Most top out at several hundred. Although millipedes may look unpleasant, these arthropods (they are not insects) are harmless to humans and are, in fact, very beneficial to farm soils.

Millipedes shred the leftover residue of previous crops—organic matter—and mix it through the soil. This gives smaller soil organisms like fungi and bacteria a greater surface area to work on and speeds the breakdown of the crop residue, ultimately making the soil more fertile. 

3. Ladybugs

Even people afraid of most insects usually aren’t creeped out by ladybugs. But for those with Coccinellidaephobia, a fear of ladybugs, walking through a garden or farm can be terrifying. It makes sense—in nature, red and black is often a sign to stay away. However, these diminutive flying beetles bring huge benefits to farmers and gardeners. Ladybugs are so prized by gardeners and farmers that you can buy them from suppliers!

Why? They’re nature’s perfect pest control. Ladybugs (also known as lady beetles and ladybird beetles) gobble up crop-destroying aphids, one of the most problematic insect pests for farms and gardens. A single ladybug can consume 50-60 aphids daily and thousands over a lifetime. One ladybug can lay hundreds of eggs in a season, and its larvae will eat hundreds of aphids before becoming adults. In addition, ladybugs feed on mites, scales, mealy bugs, thrips and white flies, all of which damage crops.

Another sign of how highly ladybugs are esteemed: they are the official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio and Tennessee.

4. Pollinators

As many schoolchildren can tell you, plants need pollinators. Why? A quick refresher: pollen from a plant's male anther needs to be transferred to the female stigma for a plant to reproduce via seeds.

About 87% of flowering plants rely on pollination, and more than 150 food crops in the U.S. That's where pollinators come in. They make the crucial exchange of pollen.

Several species of animals help with pollination, including hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, even flies and wasps. But bees do the heavy lifting, transferring far more pollen than other animals. Although European honeybees and bumblebees are the best-known U.S. bee varieties, our nation harbors more than 4,000 species of bees!

Protecting undeveloped pollinators' habitats, such as wildflower meadows on the edges of farmland, is vital to protect these industrious, fruitful creatures.

5. Spiders

What is it about spiders that unnerves people? Is it their sticky, often hard-to-spot webs, or the way they pounce so quickly when prey is near? Something about spiders unsettles most people. Yet spiders are incredibly beneficial to us.

“If spiders disappeared, we would face famine,” Norman Platnick of New York’s American Museum of Natural History told the Washington Post. “Spiders are primary controllers of insects. Without spiders, all of our crops would be consumed by those pests.”

A study found that more than 600 species of spiders patrol U.S. croplands, keeping crop-eating pests under control. 

6. Coyotes

Though they have a reputation as a pest animal and a nuisance, coyotes are, in fact, a species that can bring benefits to farms.

Coyotes are skilled predators, keeping populations of rodents that can destroy crops—such as rabbits, squirrels, gophers, voles and mice in check. Removing coyotes from an area can cause rodent populations to explode.

While it’s true that coyotes are omnivorous and will sometimes eat fruit, berries and vegetables, 90% of their diet comes from meat. They do not pose a threat to farmers’ crops.

Related to dogs and wolves, coyotes have found a way to coexist with humans and expand their range. Formerly inhabiting the western portion of the U.S., coyotes can now be found in every state except Hawaii and have moved south, far into Central America.

Ranchers sometimes may have a legitimate gripe with coyotes because, in packs, they are capable of attacking and killing livestock. The common solution: good fencing plus the coyote’s cousin, a livestock guard dog or two patrolling the territory.

7. Snakes

Snakes get a bad rap. Many people seem to have an almost visceral aversion to the sinuous reptiles. But snakes are generally shy creatures that avoid human contact.

There are about 50 species of snakes in the U.S., and 20 of those are venomous—but even they shy away from human contact. While snakes are sneaking about our fields and avoiding us, they are preying on gophers, field mice, rats, rabbits and other rodents that damage crops by feeding on them or burrowing into their roots.

8. Skunks

Anyone whose dog has ever been sprayed by a skunk knows: it’s Grade A horrible. No one wants to be anywhere near a skunk. We fear skunks with good reason. But these slow-moving, stinky beasts can bring benefits to farms.

Skunks consume pest insects like caterpillars and grubs, field mice and voles, helping to keep them under control. They also eat berries, leaves and grasses. Beekeepers do not like skunks, however. Because of their thick fur, skunks aren’t deterred by bee stings and will seek out honeybee hives to dine on.

9. Bats

These winged mammals are the poster child for Halloween and have been associated with all things scary at least as far back as Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel Dracula, published in 1897.

Some people fear that, like Dracula, bats will drink their blood. But none of the 40 bat species inhabiting the U.S. drink blood. Three species are nectar feeders that help pollinate desert plants, while most U.S. bats eat insects in abundance. A single insect-eating bat can consume hundreds of pest insects in a night, equivalent to half its body weight. A cave full of thousands of bats can consume literal tons of insects.

Economists have quantified the dollar value of bats’ insect pest control to U.S. agriculture at $23 billion annually.

10. Owls

The banshee screech of an owl can sound supernatural in the pitch blackness of night on a farm, but owls are super-carnivores that benefit farmers significantly.

Owls serve an important role in controlling rodent populations and protecting crops. They are a natural pest defense system as they are highly skilled hunters of the night when rodents and other small mammals are on the move.

With their ghostly night stalking enabled by their giant wingspan, it's no wonder owls are effective carnivores. Owls can eat up to 10% of their body weight in rodents each night. Because hunting is what they do best, they have also been known to prey on snakes, amphibians and invertebrates.

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A Baby Bison

Beneficial-Sky-7600

[jenfoundabug]

Female crane fly (family Tipulidae) laying eggs. I knew some species lay eggs in soil, but wasn’t expecting it to look this silly 😆

While most crane fly adults don’t feed (they’re not giant mosquitoes!), most larvae eat dead plant matter. Larvae are an important part of the soil ecosystem because they convert organic matter into nutrients that plants and other life forms can use. Crane flys are also an important food source at all stages of their life for everything from spiders to song birds.

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

With No Way Home leaving Tom Holland's Peter Parker basically shelved - alongside Sony Studios basically killing the live-action Spider-man industry with almost purposeful flops like Morbius and Madame Web -

In addition to the millions of dollars poured into the technical advancements of animation into Sony Animations specifically for Spider-Verse - like Hobie, Ham, and Noir - alongside the EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS of concept art for characters like Hobie;

AND the release of shorter animatics such as The Spider Within - I think it's becoming very very clear that The Spider-Verse is expected to be the next frontier in Spider-Man Cinematic Renditions.

This new short tells me that Sony Animation is willing to let The Spider-Verse team branch out and experienment not just with styles and characters, but with genres and storytelling as well.

Releasing the short in theatres is often what studios do to test audience engagement and interest, and although it was natural for them to release it publically now - what with BTSV being delayed - I still think it says something about what may or may not be doing down behind the scenes.

In my opinion - I expect to hear big news from Sony Animation not too long after the release of BTSV.

But that's just me.

And I have a very solid feeling about what I think the first installment might be - based on the trends of Sony and Marvel moviegoers in general.

There's a number of reasons why I think that is - but I'm not gonna tell you any. Because I'm lazy.

What y'all think? Anyway here's Hobie

[yakksalot]

speebys (species of bug, 3cm tall)

[twinvictim]

Vegans on this website are something else man

[satans-knitwear]

These fishnets make me look blurry?? Nice✨

Treat me ~ Tip me

[c1nn4-bunny]

ARTIST INFO (UPDATED VER.)

I truly am one of the people that exist I think. You may have my middle name, but you're not getting my last name out of me, only [???] for you! (<- still hasn't solidified one with his partner anyway)

I stopped taking it seriously mid way through, which explains the random stuff thrown in. I'm awful at making MTA sheets lol.

The cute little flag on the right was made by an old friend years ago but uh, my reblog is literally the only thing left of that post. So here.

[coldvampire]

anyway as soon as i pry myself off this couch im gonna share some screenshots of bg3 protags on my sideblog. just gotta like. reach the desk first.

[ruthlesslistener]

not to keep vagueposting about animal welfare discourse, but i happened to run into one of the blogs that was shitting on scout for their cow husbandry and the shit they were saying was so fucking stupid...it was something along the lines of 'rabbits aren't social animals because their wild ancestors have a social group set entirely by mating/the HRS tries to force you to bond rabbits unnecessarily and is a peta-affiliated organization/its unnecessary to spay female rabbits because the 85% association between uterine cancer and not spaying is only supported by two studies', all of which may make sense for breeding rabbits is complete and utter bullshit when dealing with pet rabbits.

Rabbits are indeed social animals that grow anxious when alone and should have SOME form of companionship most hours of the day. This does not have to be another rabbit, and the urging to establish a bonded pair is typically done for people who are OUT OF THE HOUSE most of the day. HRS and shelters don't 'force' pairings, they encourage them because having someone around 24/7 isnt always viable in American households. When I tried to get Celeste bonded because I was worried about her welfare (this was when I was 14 and new to rabbits), both the HRS and shelters talked us out of it because she very clearly did not care about other buns, and didn't need to be bonded because there was always someone around them. But if you're a singular person who's away from home most of the time, then yes you need some sort of partner animal because it reduces stress in your rabbit.

Those social structures are ofc going to be different if you have unfixed breeding animals, but the core aspect of it is still the same. Rabbits are social animals. They are comforted by the presence of others around them, form bonds with other rabbits, and feel more secure in groups. Just because they are more territorial when unfixed (as they should!) doesn't reduce the fact that they are social prey animals, it just means that you need to keep them in different conditions than you would a fixed creature with less hormonal urges

The HRS is not aligned with PETA. They denounce affiliations with meat breeders because they're entirely based on improving the welfare of rabbits that are kept as pets. I can see why some might feel offended on their stance against meat rabbits, but rabbits are still primarily viewed as livestock, and after hearing enough comments about people wanting to eat my rabbit, I can understand why they'd be so clear on it. People are assholes about pets that are commonly viewed as feeder animals.

There is indeed a high risk associated between UNBRED unspayed female rabbits and uterine cancer. This is supported by several studies on animals with similar breeding lifestyles by multiple veterinary institutions. You won't notice it in your breeding females because the risk is SPECIFICALLY for unbred animals, aka most pets. So yes, spaying is necessary for your doe's health if you do not intend to regularly breed or have stopped regularly breeding

Even if there wasn't a very real danger to their health, you'd still need to get them fixed to reduce behavioral problems. Unfixed rabbits are much more territorial, destructive, and aggressive, making them more difficult to keep in a home environment. They will growl, they will lunge and bite (and rabbit bites are not something you want to fuck with- I have scars from Celeste's nips), they will piss and shit to mark their territory and it WILL be pungent and unsanitary even if they are litterbox trained. They can still be cuddly with you, sure, that won't reduce their value as pets, but a perpetually sexually frustrated and territorial animal is not fun to deal with and is arguably unethical for the rabbit. If you want a pet rabbit, you need to get them spayed. And I say this from personal experience- Celeste wasn't spayed when we got her, but after she did get spayed, she became much more manageable and less likely to bite. She was still manageable beforehand, but afterwards she was a hell of a lot more relaxed and not stressed

There's nothing wrong with having significantly different husbandry because you are a meat/fur breeder; unfixed animals have different temperaments, different needs, and are typically kept in different conditions that are more economically and behaviorally suited to turning a profit. But those care requirements change drastically when you have only one to two fixed animals in a home environment, which means that you cannot pass judgement on pet care requirements when you're a meat breeder, and visa versa.

[joelletwo]

gintama was fucking insane for putting gintoki and the ideal (but false) narrative in a sexual relationship. i never said that. but i remember it and i just stare at the wall and sigh and plot gintama on the venn diagrams of stories making radically good storytelling moves for real. right next to homestuck and haruhi

[sickmachete]

finding a cool animal facts video but the comments are full of a bunch of whiny babies saying "oh that's sooo gross" or "kill it with fire" i hope the parasitic worms get you

[generic-sonic-fan]

If you knew you were going to be lost in the wilderness and you have to pick one guy to help you survive, your first pick would be Knuckles but your second pick would be Silver. In this essay I will-

[codgod-moved]

okay so the bad news is that my wifi is out (in that it is very very slow most of the time rn) and i have very little data and don’t really wanna buy more so that’s why i’ve been less active. the good news (for Me) is that netflix still mostly works so i’ve been watching through the entirety of yugioh duel monsters so like at least i’m not bored and stuck in 144p youtube land. the great news is that i’ve decided that i think it’d be fun to try and make my own trading card game. because all i’ve been doing for the past two days has been watching an anime about a tcg. this is a very good idea with no flaws

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

every time i see the absolute wild takes ARAs put out, or the straight up misinformation used to make animal agri seem scarier or more cruel than it is, I wonder what could be done if those efforts were put towards actually picking out the real, non-fabricated flaws of the systems in place and pressuring them rather than this "to evil to exist" stuff that will never go anywhere. like how much real change is drowned out by "milk demons are adding spikes to cow noses so that their moms hate them"

Honestly sometimes I wonder if peta is secretly run by people who profit off of skimping on regs for animal agriculture. What if the main Mind behind peta is the CEO of Tyson chicken and he just promotes progressively more insane ARA takes and lies so common society doesn’t take any animal welfare movement seriously and they can continue abusing animals for profits.