Thoughts on Insects

http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/stingingcaterpillars.php

           The first thought that comes to my mind when I think of insects is fear. I have always been very afraid of any kind of thing that even resembled a bug or insect. I know that it sounds childish, but that is just the way I am. I have always blamed it on the fact that a bee stung my mother when she was pregnant with me, even though I know this is not truly the reason I am afraid. The bug that I am most afraid of would have to be a Wasp or Yellow Jacket. This would be because of their sting. My fear is a little irrational, seeing as the sting does not hurt that much. This makes me wonder sometimes why I am afraid at all in the first place.

https://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg340.html

          Another thought that comes to my head with insects is fascination and appreciation. My father owns his own small business, and it is a nursery. When you grow up in a nursery, you begin to appreciate what bugs and insects can do for it. An example would be a Honey Bee. Although I would still associate fear with Honey Bees, I appreciate what they do to pollinate flowers and help my father’s business literallygrow. Butterflies are also a good source of pollination, and less scary than Bees. In the nursery business, you also learn about insects that are bad. Insects such as Aphids or Caterpillars can be detrimental to flowers or plants.  They can literally destroy flowers and plants in the blink of an eye. This causes problems for a nursery, and sometimes we begin to think of certain insects as pests and a nuisance. There is a good side and a bad side of insects in the nursery business.

http://www.buzzingacrossamerica.com/2013/06/honeybee-or-wasp.html

When I signed up for this class, I hoped that it would help me learn more about insects and not be so afraid of them. I want to appreciate them more, and understand their nature. After watching Bug Bits, I have already learned more about bugs than I knew from my entire lifetime of being outside in the nursery. While I saw bugs and insects on a daily basis, I never really paid any specific attention to them, other than wanting them to get away from me. I never wanted to understand what insects are like until now. I am happy that I got this class so maybe I can overcome my fear, and see insects in a new and appreciative light. 

http://theflyingscorpion.webs.com