Garden Buildings Direct

What is Crawling in the Garden?

photo by Svenja: Flickr 

A Fun Look Into Neat Insects

Insects are so much more than creepy, crawly pests to be swatted away! From the tiny ant to the endangered praying mantis, there are over one million species (and counting) of insects sharing the earth with humans. Some scientists even estimate that there may be as many as ten million species! That makes them the most successful life form on earth. Not only that, but bugs play a very important role here on earth, helping humans and the environment in many different ways that are sometimes hard to see with the naked eye. They are an important source of food for many cultures, can be used to make medicine to heal the sick, and are so essential to pollinating plant life and aerating the soil that without them, around thirty percent of the food humans eat every day would not exist! So have no fear of these six-legged friends, they are hard at work doing important jobs for us every day!

Believe it or Not: Insects and Humans are a Lot Alike

Some insects are actually a lot like humans! Bugs such as ants and bees are called social insects because they live together in complex communities where each and every member has a specific job that benefits the colony as a whole. They live together like one giant family. Worker ants scout for food and haul it back to the colony where it is shared with all the other ants. The queen ant is responsible for reproducing and keeping the colony alive. Nurse ants even feed and care for young ants to ensure their survival. Sounds pretty familiar, right? Bees work together in a similar way and even communicate with each other by using intricate “dances” to warn others of danger or to let bees know where to find food. Ants and bees aren’t the only social insects though; wasps and termites are social insects too.

Some Creepy Crawly Facts

Some insects may seem just plain gross! But are they? Leave leftover food outside in the garbage too long and you may see maggots, which are larvae from eggs that flies have laid. Yuck! But did you know that doctors can use maggots to heal wounds in humans? In some cases, the maggots do a better job than modern medicine at killing the bacteria in a wound and eating dead, dangerous tissue. And, unlike other medicines and practices, there are no bad side effects! Hiding in stagnant waters and ready to suck some blood, leeches are another creepy member of the insect family. But they too have an important role in modern medicine! Leeches are still used in surgery because they secrete a chemical that helps prevent blood clots in patients. Scientists are even discovering ways to use these leech secretions to help stop heart attacks and strokes. So don’t judge a bug by its looks! It just may help save your life one day!

Bugs on the Job

Insects also play an important role in the garden, and are essential to turning a seed in the dirt into that delicious tomato or cucumber in your dinner salad. Bugs like the Praying Mantis and the Pirate Bug eat bad “pest” insects that can harm and kill the plants trying to survive in the garden. These bugs can take the place of dangerous chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides that farmers use to chase away pests, which is better for both humans and the environment. Earthworms and other burrowing insects are also beneficial because they work to aerate (help supply with oxygen) the soil and create tunnels that help water get to plants more efficiently. Bees bring pollen that helps plants produce seeds that eventually become flowers and the vegetables that we eat everyday. As you can see, without bugs, our dinner would never be the same!

The Ones to Avoid

Although many insects do wonderful things to help humans and the environment, there are some critters that can be harmful to us and should be avoided. Centipedes and Millipedes should not be handled because they can inflict a painful bite! Although most spiders are not harmful to humans, the venom of the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse is especially poisonous. These spiders can be found anywhere, but usually like to live in damp, dark spots. Fire ants, found mostly in warmer climates, surely earned their name! Be careful not to step on a fire ant nest in the ground because the workers will hurry out to sting the intruder. The bites develop into an itchy rash that burns “like fire” and can even become infected. Bees and especially wasps can be dangerous to humans if they are allergic to their venom. Avoiding nests and hives and not harassing bees and wasps will generally keep you safe from stings. Most insects will not attack unless they are provoked or they feel threatened. They have no interest in hurting humans so follow these simple precautions, and you don’t need to fear insects!

Check Em' Out: Our Favorite Insect Sites

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