10 Most Common Bug Phobias
A bug phobia – also known as entomophobia – is far more than just disliking bugs and being startled when they surprise you. A true phobia of bugs involves significant anxiety and physical symptoms when encountering or even thinking about insects. People with entomophobia might go to great lengths to avoid bugs, like excessively cleaning or using lots of insecticides to keep them away.
The most common insect phobias are:
- Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia)
- Fear of Daddy Longlegs
- Fear of bees and wasps (Melissophobia and Spheksophobia, respectively)
- Fear of moths
- Fear of ants (Myrmecophobia)
- Fear of flies or (Pteronarcophobia)
- Fear of cockroaches (Katsaridaphobia)
- Fear of crickets (Orthopterophobia)
- Fear of mosquitoes
- Fear of bed bugs
It’s important to note that spiders are arachnids – not insects – and that “Daddy Longlegs” can refer to one of three different things (and one isn’t even a spider). Even so, therapists and the average person typically call the fear of spiders and Daddy Longlegs insect phobias.
Do I Have a Bug Phobia?
As we said above, disliking or being creeped out by bugs is very different than an actual phobia. A genuine fear or phobia causes some form of anxiety, and the reaction to the source of the phobia is overwhelming and uncontrollable. Someone with a phobia will experience some combination of these symptoms:
- Uncontrollable fear when seeing the insect
- Anxiety, which gets worse as the insect gets closer
- Fear that interferes with the person’s life, such as avoiding parks
- Panic attacks
- Fast heart rate
- Hyperventilation
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Chest tightness
- Dizziness
- Crying
- Trembling
- Muscle weakness
Is There a Phobia of Bees and Wasps?
Yes, and they have distinctly different names. Fear of bees is known as melissophobia or apiphobia. Fear of wasps is spheksophobia.
In either case, they’re most often triggered by either a negative experience (such as having been stung) or when a parent has a fear of bees and/or wasps, and that influences their children. It’s especially common to have a fear of bees and/or fear of wasps if you are allergic to their stings.
If you see a lot of bees or wasps around your home, don’t let that stop you from enjoying your yard this summer! Call Fox Pest Control today and let us help you take back your yard with our Yard Enjoyment Plan. We know what it’s like when you can’t enjoy your home or yard because of pests, and we want to take care of that for you. If you call before 2 p.m., we can usually come out the same day!
Can Bees Smell Fear?
Bees have an incredible sense of smell. They can pick up on scents that are only present in tiny amounts, as small as parts per trillion. While humans mostly rely on sight to tell if someone is scared, bees do it through smell. They can sense the pheromones, or chemical signals, that animals and people give off when they’re afraid. So, if you’re feeling nervous around bees, they can actually smell your fear! Another good reason to call Fox today!
Why Am I Afraid of Ants?
Fear of ants, also known as myrmecophobia, is pretty common. Sometimes, this fear stems from a traumatic experience, like getting bitten or having a run-in with fire ants. But psychologists think there’s also an evolutionary reason behind it.
Back in the day, before we had cozy, secure shelter from the outside, ants were a real problem. They would crawl over people while they slept and bite them, and they often got into food, contaminating it. Because of these issues, our brains might have developed a natural repulsion to ants to keep us safe. This repulsion can easily turn into a full-blown fear of ants. So, if you find yourself really freaked out by ants, it might be because your brain is just trying to look out for you!
Fox Pest Control Can Solve Your Bug Problems
You don’t need to have a phobia to dislike living with bugs and other pests. Whether you’ve just spotted the first signs of trouble or want to take protective measures to keep pests at bay, we’ve got you covered. Give Fox Pest Control a call! We can identify any pests, take care of the problem, and give you peace of mind. If you’re ready to say goodbye to unwanted critters, contact us today to see how we can help you with pest problems.
