Making systematic observations. Relating the data to information from other sources. Determining what we can know from the data, and what we can't. Much of our food depends on insect pollination. Crops are affected by insect pests.
Insects are a major link in the food chain for many animals, including most birds.
Insect populations are affected by the diversity of plants and other insects present, and insect predators keep populations of leaf-eaters in check. When we spray for mosquitoes or agricultural pests, we kill more than the pests. If we keep track of some of these variables, monitoring can help us to determine the results of our actions. It is often used in just this way. In Minnesota, many kinds of scientists monitor insects and insect activity.