A wide variety of ecological, utilitarian, scientific, aesthetic and cultural values are found within invertebrates. Ecologically, invertebrates are responsible for ecosystem stabilization, energy and nutrient transfer, maintenance of trophic structures, plant reproduction, plant protection, and even the provision of major habitats for other organisms. From a utilitarian perspective, insects have many values including pest and weed control, nutrient circulation and soil quality, waste decomposition, pollination and seed dispersal, human food, industrial and medicinal products, monitoring environmental quality and fashion and decorative applications. Being selectively more specific, invertebrates are used as part of the human diet. Many nonwestern countries utilize other invertebrates for food such as locusts among Arab populations, or ants, termites, grasshoppers and beetle grubs among African societies.
Honey is among the most important food byproducts obtained from invertebrates.
In the United States, more than four million bee colonies produce over 90 thousand tons of honey annually, and total world honey production is estimated at greater than 884,000 tons. Another important commercial product derived from invertebrates is the is the silk from silkworms, dating from prehistoric times. Current annual production of silk is estimated at more than 30 million kilograms. Pearls represent another commercial use of invertebrates with a long historic tradition. In New Guinea, many villagers are currently engaged in the innovative commercialization of the spectacular lacewing butterflies.