Oct 17, 2012 | Pest Control
The fear of insects is normal. For some, the fear can be so severe that it can be diagnosed as entomophobia, a fear or aversion to insects. This fear can confine people to their homes without the ability to enjoy the great outdoors and interfere with the quality of life. Experts say that 1-2% of adults in the US has some degree of entomophobia.
But not all bugs are to be feared. We speak a lot about the harm and damage that pests can do to your health and home but we also want to point out that not all insects are bad. The preying mantis is pest control in itself. Preying mantis’ are predators that catch and feed on other insects. Although termites can do thousands of dollars of damage to a structure they are beneficial for the eco-system. Termites help break down decaying trees. Termites can break down wood on a massive scale and prevent trees from piling up and killing the forest. Ladybugs are another natural pest control. Ladybugs eat other insects that do not have a too hard shell.
Although some bugs can be beneficial it is still very important to protect your home. Continue your pest control service to keep bugs in their natural environment instead of your home.
Check out our blog 5 Bugs to Love
Aug 6, 2012 | Pest Control
Do bees give you the creeps or do they down right frighten you into hyperventilation? If it’s the latter, you are possibly suffering from entomophobia. Entomophobia is a fear of insects or bugs. This predicament can bring about emotional and mental states such as panic attacks.
A famous entomophobe was the artist Salvador Dali. When Dalí was five years old, he witnessed an insect that had been eaten by ants where the shell was the only thing that remained. The swarming ants in Dalí’s pieces and models are innuendos to death and decomposition, and are hints of human mortality and uncertainty.
Ant Face by Salvador Dali
Dalí had an extreme phobia of grasshoppers, brought on from his adolescent harassment by other kids, who frequently hurled grasshoppers and other insects at him. When they emerge in Dalí’s art, grasshoppers are utilized as an indication of devastation, decay and despair. Dalí characterizes them with a fearsome nature, as huge and alarming in comparison to the other figures, and they are shown in the act of eating the main subject of the work a number of times.
Although Salvador Dali was an odd guy, we can all agree that some insects are just plain creepy.
What is your phobia?
Cara Carver
[email protected]
Jun 15, 2012 | Pest Control
Throughout history, most humans have disliked and even had a fear of insects and spiders. Entomophobia, or insectophobia, is a common fear or aversion to insects and arthropods. Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. Hollywood has capitalized on those common fears by exposing them in the horror film genre.
Since the horror genre hit the scene back in the 1940’s, the bug movie has been a pivotal part of the industry. The insect horror film is in an exceptionally extensive category of horror. Since the premiere of 1950’s Highly Dangerous, Hollywood has produced over 75 movies featuring killer insects or spiders. Some contain mammoth, mutant bugs that can devour humans, while others feature deadly swarms of ants, bees, or wasps. They vary from the hilariously campy to the straight -up terrifying. Here are a few:
Them! – A crew of FBI agents and entomologists battle radiation-induced gigantic ants in this black-and-white sci-fi flick from 1954.
The Fly – Jeff Goldblum’s iconic turn as the scientist-turned-fly in this remake is equal parts poignant and petrifying.
The Deadly Mantis – The star of William Alland’s sci-fi flick is a 200-foot-long praying mantis freed from its prehistoric lair by a sudden seismic shift.
Arachnophobia – South American killer spider hitches a lift to the US in a coffin and starts to breed and kill.
Not all movies about bugs tap into our fears. Here are movies that make you almost wanna like the little guys:
A Bug’s Life – A misfit ant, looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.
Spiderman – When bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school student gains spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family.
Don’t let your home turn into a horror film! Call Northwest Exterminating.
What is the creepiest movie that you have ever seen?
Cara Carver
[email protected]
