Insects and spiders play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and contribute significantly to biodiversity, Eshaan Pahade, entomologist and founder-director of the Entomon Institute of Invertebrate Zoology, Pune, has said.

He was speaking at the sixth lecture in the Moolatatva Vicharopanyasa (Environmental Basics Lecture) series, titled ‘Wonders of the Insect World’ in Dharwad on Friday (August 21). Nature Research Centre, Dharwad, and Nature First Eco Village, Halligeri, had organised the lecture in association with the Entomon Institute of Invertebrate Zoology, Pune.

Mr. Pahade said surveys, studies and documentation of insects and spiders with the participation of local communities could become valuable resources for biodiversity boards as well as citizen science initiatives.

Spider expert Atharva Kulkarni said that India was home to over 4,000 species of spiders, but only around 2,000 had been identified so far. Several species might have disappeared before they could even be documented, he said, stressing the need for systematic documentation of the country’s existing spider diversity with the participation of citizen scientists at the local level.

Presiding over the programme, senior environmentalist Panchakshari Hiremath said an environmental education centre was being developed at Nature First Eco Village in Halligeri. It would include a frog garden, Batracarium and dedicated spaces for butterflies, spiders, bees and other insects, he said.

Gopal Kadekodi, S.M. Shivaprasad, Dheeraj Veeranagoudar, R.G. Thimmapur, Pandit Munji, and Krishnakumar Bagavath were present. Harshavardhan Sheelavant welcomed the gathering and introduced the speakers.

Published - August 22, 2026 06:41 pm IST