Did you know that there are more than 1.5 million species of insects that have been identified and named? According to Purdue University, that is three times the number of all other animals combined! And scientists estimate that those are only a small fraction of all the insects there are on Earth; many have not yet been discovered.

Many people are becoming more aware of the importance of insects in the environment. They are the sole food source of many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. When insects are harmed by global climate change, pollution, or pesticides, these other animals lose their food source. Extinction can move around the food web.

Insects benefit humans in many ways. They often serve as primary or secondary decomposers–cleaning up the world by eating decaying organic matter. Many insects attack other insects, plants, or animals that humans classify as pests. And some insects produce things that we enjoy, such as honey, beeswax, silk, dye, and shellac. Other insects have medicinal uses. Insects are full of protein, vitamins, and minerals; in most places around the world people eat insects as food.

We are confident that we haven’t convinced you to fix cicadas for dinner. However, many people are honoring insects with art and jewelry. Folks are also choosing bug fabrics for apparel sewing, home decor, and quilt projects. You might peruse the insect fabric prints we have for sale at Missouri Star. Maybe you will be inspired to incorporate some insect fabric into your next project!

As you scroll through our insect print fabric, you will notice many honeycomb and bumblebee prints. Butterflies and dragonflies are also plentiful–you will find insect fabric by the yard and many types of precuts including bug fabric fat quarters.

We have ladybug fabric–classic red ladybugs as well as multicolor ladybugs. Did you know that ladybugs aren’t bugs, they are insects? Maybe we shouldn’t call our ladybug prints bug fabric! (FYI: All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs.) No matter how you classify them–ladybugs are helpful to gardeners because they eat aphids, fruit flies, and mites. Maybe you know a gardener who would love a hand-crafted gift made with ladybug insect fabric prints. A ladybug print gardening apron or tool bag perhaps?

From elegant dragonflies to The Very Hungry Caterpillar–we think there is something for everyone among our bug fabric prints. We hope that you will choose “textile theme insects” for your next quilting project. Missouri Star is ready to support you with beautiful fabrics and buggy patterns.