image by: Shotaro Honda, Kodomo no kuni magazine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

HWN Suggests

Impact of Insects

But despite the tremendous economic losses they may cause, it is not entirely fair to cast the members of Class Insecta as villains who rob us of our food and livelihoods. They are also cherished allies on whom we depend to keep the natural environment clean and productive. They have shaped human cultures and civilizations in countless ways, they supply unique natural products, they regulate the population densities of many potential pest species, they dispose of our wastes, bury the dead, and recycle organic nutrients. Indeed, we seldom stop to consider what life would be like without insects and how much we depend on them for our very survival. To paraphrase William Shakespeare, “The evil that…

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 Bugs that can give you a bug

Bug-borne diseases are causing a buzz these days. Some tiny critters can pack a punch when it comes to your health. So, what should we swat away in our area? And what’s harmless?

 Insects and Public Health: An Overview

Insects are, by far, the most common animals on our planet. The ubiquity and plethora of ecological niches occupied by insects, along with the strict and sometimes forced coexistence between insects and humans, make insects a target of public health interest.

Articles of Interest

Beware Gateway Bugs Bringing Insect-Borne Disease

The fickle, fitful media does occasionally make major stories out of Zika and West Nile viruses, Lyme disease and the like. But after injecting a few initial jolts of fear, it often slacks off and pays little attention to the background of how and why these threats come to be.

Diseases Caused by Insects and Arachnids

There are many insects that are the primary or intermediate hosts or carriers of human diseases. Pathogens that are capable of being transmitted by insects include protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and such helminths as tapeworms, flukes, and roundworms. There are two methods of transmission of a pathogen by insects: mechanical and biological.

How dirty are bugs? And is it okay if they touch food?

Sometimes I see people throw out an entire drink or bowl of food because a small bug was in it. Are they justified in doing this? Is there enough bacteria on common species of bugs (like ants, flies, beetles, dragonflies, caterpillars, moths, etc) to warrant any kind of health concern for a larger amount of food than what the bug was in contact with, or at all?

Insects and Illness: Comparing the Health Risks Posed by Common Bugs

Household pests aren’t just annoying—they can be real troublemakers for your health! From spreading disease to stirring up allergies, some bugs can cause more headaches (and sneezes) than you might expect. Knowing which creepy crawlies pose the biggest risks and how to keep them at bay is key to keeping your home clean and comfortable.

Other Pests of Medical Interest

Most of these insects or insect relatives do not carry diseases, but they can be a significant public health nuisance

Public Health Issues Caused by Pests

Serious, even fatal, diseases can be spread or triggered by pests such as vectors, other insects, rodents, or microbes.

What kind of illnesses do insects get? Do we have the medical knowledge to cure an insect if we knew it was sick?

Bacteria and viruses can be problems for insects; some insects also face threats from parasitic wasps or other parasites. Insects, however, have very effective immune systems for fighting illness.