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Encounters with Insects
By Neil Ransom | June 12, 2007
There are an estimated 2 to 50 million insect species on the earth and I have come into contact with just about all of them. I must look like a plump tasty food source or an exterminator to most bugs, because to date I have been stung by 14 bees (alas I am allergic), bitten by a wolf spider or two, most recently kamikazed by hoards of falling hairy caterpillars, attacked by nests of fire, safari and countless other ants, been stung by wasps, slept with hobo spiders, been eaten alive by mosquitoes while others in the same tent received not a sting, attached by a soul sucking gargantuan flying devil while sleeping in Moab, Utah, and wake up now and again to notice a new giant blistering bug bite. For example the following is an excerpt from an email I sent to my friends and family while living in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, 5 April 2005
Well Monday was buggy; when I woke up I had to kill a few 5″ roaches in my bathroom. They must have had a lot of practice because it took me a while get them all. Later while interviewing three farmers I had just moved my chair into the shade when I started to feel loads of pain on my right foot. I looked down to see my foot covered in red bitty ants. The Bengalis thought this was hilarious and the driver, Tazu, told me, “it is because these ants have never tasted the white flesh before and they just had to try it.” “These ants,” he said, “do not bite Bengali, they have already tasted us and do not like.” That evening while using my roach mausoleum of a bathroom, I encountered a 6″ spider. They are harmless, I was told, and so I left it to its exploring.
Even so, I love insects, they are great little creatures that move our planet along. Many insects are nature’s most powerful pollinators, others are wonderful decomposers, and still others are beautiful beyond compare. Without pollinating insects, plants would have never evolved the beautiful flowers to attract them. Most beetles help decompose dead matter, recycling elements back into the ecosystem. Let us no forget the honey, silk, and waxes we use from insects. While staying among the Masi on a school trip in Kenya, we learned how the Masi used safari ants in place of stitches for deep cuts. The ants would bite the two pieces of skin together, tightly sealing the cut, and when the body segment was removed the jaws remained tightly shut until removed.
I am always amazed by the diversity and abilities of insects, and I dedicate this entry to them. May you live long and prosper (except for the mosquito, flee, and tick of course).
Another article about bugs on my old blog.
Wikipedia article about insects.
Funny insect find on Google Earth.
Tagged with: Africa • Animals • Earth • Insects • Nature
June 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I don’t have very interesting comments, but I’m pulling for you Neil. I always get stung by bees at birthday parties. Once a yellow jacket flew in my shirt and got me quite a few times before my dad was able to get it out and squish the life out of it.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I’m still pulling for you Neil.