Entomophobias #whatbugsme

What is your phobia?

     Entomophobia (also known as insectophobia) is characterized by an excessive or unrealistic fear of one or more classes of insect. Below is a list of some of the specific insect phobia names. Do you have one of these or are you just like most people who find them icky?  Why do we fear insects? Is it because of the gross factor? We as humans tend to fear things we do not understand and that goes for bugs in a big way. If we understood what they do we would understand they help us. I ran a poll on Facebook recently and it seems bed bugs are at the top with roaches and spiders not far behind on everyones “NOPE” list. Spiders eat bugs that might bite or sting us. Roaches clean up garbage. Bats love to eat mosquitoes. Termites, although harmful to our homes are like many other insects that clean the debris from the forest floor. This is similar to the ugly Plecostomus or Suckerfish in our fish tank that eats the algae so we can watch the pretty fish swim around. Ants can be annoying but aerate our yards to help the grass grow. Don’t forget bees that pollinate and honey bees that make that beautiful honey that we all love so much. Without insects all our crops would die out and we would be in some serious trouble.

Outnumbered    

There is nothing you can do to never come across an insect. There are 200 million insects for each person and 300 pounds of insects per person on the planet! No where to hide, we are outnumbered so just accept it. Most insects want nothing to do with you and only become a problem when they become too numerous. So don’t be a Gnosiophobe ( fear of knowledge) and learn something. I can somewhat understand fearing insects except for the camel crickets. Every week I have to listen to the feet of bravery where the Mrs’ was imprisoned in the shower while the harmless camel cricket roamed the bathroom with inconsiderate abandon. The truth is the camel cricket is one of the most benign pests that visit you in your home but for some reason this is the one the women are terrified of.  Just remember, you are so much bigger and stronger than them. They are more afraid of you than you are of them. And by the way, did you know that the butterfly is the ugliest insect?! I’m not talking about the pretty wings, I’m talking about their face. They definitely have a face for radio. A phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of things or situations. The source of the fear can create a strong panic reaction symptoms of which can include:

• Sweating
• Increased heart beat
• Breathing difficulties.
• Light headedness
• Dry mouth
• Extreme fear
• Racing dead end thoughts
• Nausea
• Increased urination/bowel movements

Arachnophobia spiders

 

Acarophobia mites or insects

Myrmecophobia ants

Scabiophobia bed bugs

Apiphobia bees

Spheksophobia wasps

 

Pteronarcophobia flies

Chilopodophobia centipedes/millipedes

Anopheliphobia mosquitoes

Katsaridaphobia roaches

Gnosiophobia knowledge

Orthopterophobia crickets

I included the pictures for my own sick enjoyment. Hopefully you are still reading and aren’t hiding under the bed… cuz there is probably a bug or 2 under there trying to hide from you too. So if any of these describe you give us a call after you call your shrink and let us help control your irrational fear.