By FPL_Libby
According to the Smithsonian Institution “it is estimated that there are some 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) individual insects” alive on earth at any given moment. That's around 1 billion insects for each human on the planet. With numbers like that, it's easy to understand why many people are less than fond of our creepy crawly cohabiters. Until recently I would have considered myself amongst the bug haters. However, in the last couple of months, I’ve tried to conquer some of my bug related fears. Here are some of the things that I’ve found helpful in my bug loving journey. Hopefully they will help you too!
Explore the importance of bugs
Bugs play a vital role in our ecosystems! Even pests like mosquitoes are an important part of the food chain for fish, birds, frogs, bats, and more. The Western bumble bee is one of many important pollinators in the United States. According to the FDA “bee pollination accounts for about $15 billion in added crop value.”
Here are a couple of great articles about how important insects are to the world and the impact that their declining numbers will have:
Here's How Insects Help Keep Ecosystems in Balance, opens a new window
Why Insect Populations Are Plummeting and Why It Matters, opens a new window
Observe bugs
Observing bugs in their natural environment can be a great way to conquer your fears! Make sure you observe from an unobtrusive and safe distance. You can also try an app like Seek by INaturalist. This app helps you identify and keep track of the bugs, plants, and animals you observe. The gardens around the Frisco Library would be a great place to start! We have plenty of native and adaptive plants that attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles.
iNaturalist APP, opens a new window
Read about bugs!
The more you learn about something, the less scary it becomes. Here’s a list of kids' nonfiction books about different types of bugs, and the wonderful things that they contribute to the world!
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