How Tiny Animals Bug the World
How Tiny Animals Bug the World
In our gardens, we love butterflies fluttering amongst flowers spreading pollen and joy. We’re delighted when birds dine on gourmet seeds, and ladybirds devour aphids.
And, alongside these, bees earn pride of place. As our busiest pollinators, bees are critical for survival (yet globally, we decimate them with pesticides).
Anyway, we welcome ‘pretty’ animals into our green oasis. They’re the lucky ones.
But, when it comes to undesirable creatures - people are repulsed. They fear these animals will either infect them, inflict pain or scare them to death.
And what’s worse, they seem to be all over the planet!
Over the years, I’ve worked with many adults who’ve suffered from phobias. They’ve been traumatised by animals such as spiders, reptiles, or insects for most of their lives.
Not surprisingly, these creatures are among the most feared by human beings. And yet, children have an inbuilt fascination with bugs and other animals. That is until adults teach them otherwise.
Of course, I’ve never met a parent or carer who wants to pass on their anxiety. They understand that with education (and without fear), their children will care for the planet better than previous generations.
In this post, I share some experiences of working with people afraid of our fellow creatures. To be honest, the fear of animals is endless. So, my primary aim here is to calm nerves and increase understanding.
Oh, and to answer that
eternal question:
‘Apart from bugging us,
what’s the point of these pesky minibeasts?’
They’re more scared of us
I’ve never run a session without somebody having a severe animal fear. Often, a whole group can feel anxious (usually learnt and passed amongst each other).
So, whether it’s a school or adult setting, I use the same approach. Ironically, to calm fears, I introduce probably the world’s biggest animal fear…
She’s my beautiful golden-haired tarantula, Goldilocks.
It seems to amuse people that a spider has a
name, so the mood is set, and off we go.
As I gently pick Goldilocks up, I talk to her. I do this to reassure her, but also the participants. I tell her constantly that she’s safe and nobody’s going to hurt HER. To shield her, I cover her with my hands (spiders prefer dark and warmth). They can also smell, so my scent adds extra security for HER.
Then I talk to the group about her calm, peaceful nature and how vulnerable she is. And how she relies on me to care for her and treat her kindly.
I point out it’s like the care home residents
she visits or the special needs children she enthrals – they also depend on
human kindness.
By now, hopefully, most people are relaxing. But,
then someone asks the inevitable question:
‘What happens if it bites me - will I be dead? Fortunately, I can vouch for Goldilocks here.
The truth is, a tarantula has never killed a human being (their venom is comparable to a mild bee sting). And yet, they’re falsely demonised by the media, based on misconceptions and word of mouth (fed by fear).
In fact, tarantulas are one of nature’s gentle
giants. They’re timid, non-aggressive, and like most spiders, would
rather flee. So, even when threatened,
biting’s a last resort.
Furthermore, far from being a danger to
humans, tarantula venom has the potential to cure us.
Researchers have discovered their venom contains
medicinal qualities for treating chronic
pain (without side effects), muscular dystrophy, and sickle-cell
anaemia, amongst others.
By this stage, most people are at ease with Goldilocks – many are fascinated by her.
Of course, a charming, golden-haired tarantula
is one thing. But for many, the problem
is tiny spiders - especially those in our homes.
Again, our eight-legged friends come with
perks. For a start, they’ll eat the bugs in your house that bother
you - like flies and fleas.
And worldwide, spiders help us in other ways:
- They
control the pests that harm our crops.
- They
reduce insects that carry disease.
- Their silk and venom inspire medical and engineering advances.
As for spiders invading our homes, they’re
probably on a romantic mission.
Around autumn, passionate males come searching
for a partner. They’re desperate to find love, but first, they have
to brave any human hazards.
To make matters worse, their eyesight’s poor, so even crossing a floor
can be fatal.
They dash frantically with gangly legs all
over the place (honestly, they’re not chasing you). They’re panicking
to reach safety without getting squashed.
Halfway across, they have
to stop for a breath. The spiders are shattered
by now - some even have a heart attack.
However, for those that survive, a tougher
task awaits…
Now they have to impress the female.
To charm her, the suitor strums her web and struts his stuff. It's then time to show his best moves – like the Patrick Swayze of spiders. Finally, if he's lucky, he’s invited into her silky nest.
He settles in and plans to stay loyal forever (perhaps we could learn a lesson here?). But, sadly, any happiness may be short-lived. Having done the deed, he probably dies from sheer exhaustion.
Can you imagine?
If that happened in the human world - I don’t
think us men would be so keen, do you?
To squash or not to squash
It’s a warm summer’s day, and you’re enjoying a delicious barbeque. On cue, along comes a wasp to inspect your dinner (and you). Like a guided missile, that annoying buzz locks on to you, and finally, the nuisance lands. It’s now an easy target.
What would you do?
Stay still and wait for it to move on - or pick up a rolled-up newspaper and squash it? At this moment, people often wonder what’s the point of wasps, anyway.
Well, here’s the answer…
Worldwide, wasps serve a crucial purpose. They not only control the pests that harm our plants and countryside, but they also support pollination - just like bees.
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| Credit: Casia Charlie |
In the past 50 years, we’ve already wiped out a quarter of bees.
Besides that, wasps deserve more credit since
they have the capacity to heal us. For example, researchers have
found that chemicals in the tropical wasp’s venom have the potential to destroy cancerous cells.
As it happens, every species plays a role in ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth - including ours. So, why are some creatures so despised? Moreover, why are we so scared of them?
Usually, it’s because:
- They look different to us (fear of the
unknown)
- People misinterpret their movements.
- Children learn fears from adults (and
the cycle continues)
- People think they’ll cause
harm.
Let’s look at the risks.
Yes, encounters with animals can sometimes be
'hairy' – always treat them with caution and respect. But, if you compare the number of people
killed by stings or bullets, which is the most deadly species?
Exactly.
The truth is, some of the most feared animals on
Earth are vital for the planet and human health.
For instance, spiders, bats, and frogs are the main predators of mosquitoes, which can carry fatal diseases like malaria and yellow fever. So, instead of disgust, surely they deserve gratitude.
Anyway, back to the wasp dilemma. If I squashed the little ‘pest’, it’s not a crime, but (for the reasons above), it is a crying shame. Even worse, what example would I be setting?
Suppose children learn to stamp on something
because it displeases them; what happens in the playground with a kid they
dislike?
Conversely, if they’re taught not to tread on a
beetle, it can help nurture:
- Tolerance (for animals and people)
- Respect for life
- A sense of fair play
- Responsibility towards nature (and the
planet)
Besides, what do you lose if you don't step on a beetle? Nothing. But what do you gain? Perhaps a drop more humanity.
Admittedly, some creatures may be a bit 'weird' or uneasy on the eye. But if we try to look beyond that, they all have a purpose. They perform vital roles that benefit us all.
So, the reality is that tiny
animals aren’t trying to ‘bug’ the world…
They’re working hard to preserve it.
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| Credit: Egor Kamelev |
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I'm intrigued to hear what you think?
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