B – Bug-eyed

Bug-eyed!

“I can’t believe there are so many bugs in this world. They’re disgusting!” Otto screamed out to no one in particular. “If I had my way, I would crush them all. They serve no purpose other than to spread diseases and annoy the heck out of you. And that is not to mention the number of spiders we eat in our sleep, 4-8 a year, check it out on the web!”                                                                       

Herman was passing by and try as he might to ignore the rants of the outspoken Otto, he couldn’t keep silent.

“I believe if you check out the internet, you will find numerous sources that debunk the swallowing spiders in our sleep myth (author’s note: try this one: https://bit.ly/2jBut6h). Bugs are living things and deserve a right to live as all creatures do. Look at the good things we get from insects such as bees. Where would you get the honey you so enjoy to eat? As for spiders, without them your house might be infested with roaches, earwigs, mosquitoes, flies and clothes moths, to mention a few. That’s a pretty inexpensive, non-pesticide, pest control. Do you like silk? How about gardens? Not only do some bugs pollinate flowers, some also feed off of other insects that destroy flowers and vegetable plants you eat. Take the ladybug and aphids.”

Otto just frowned. “So you want all bugs to go free and do whatever damage they can? Ever hear of locusts? And what about mosquitoes and malaria? And ticks…don’t get me started on their diseases.”

Herman thought on that. “Okay, I’ll grant you that some bugs are not necessarily beneficial to humans. But are they totally dangerous to all living things? Even in their death, some provide nutrients to the soil as they decompose. Some even help decompose other dead animals which then enrich the earth where we grow things in order to survive.

“Then we need to find alternatives to replace what they do or change their DNA structure; or have them do whatever they do somewhere else; just not around me!” Otto proclaimed with a sense of finality.

————————

I’m always amazed at the disparate views that are expressed when those two happen to get into a debate. I was sitting nearby when this conversation took place. I agree with Herman in that some bugs are useful and help us survive. Some are just beautiful to look at. But I’m also bothered by those that don’t do me any favors, like mosquitoes and those pesky houseflies. As long as we can come to an agreement that if they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them, there’ll be no trouble. However bite me, sting me or just fly around me to annoy me…well… that’s a death wish on their part. They’ve been forewarned.