Odd ones out

Odd-looking yet beautiful and useful creatures

Odd-looking creatures such as spiders, crickets, and other bugs might be less lovable than a butterfly, but they are unapologetically distinctive and beautiful in their own right. Although some insects do not pollinate significantly, they lie at the base of the food pyramid on land, and represent a staple food source for numerous other animals. Moreover, they offer a number of other services, such as helping in maintaining the cycle of life by extracting micro-nutrients from decomposing matter. Insect biodiversity accounts for more than 80% of total animal biodiversity on the planet, and remains one of the best markers of the health of an ecosystem.