What Good Are Pesky Bugs?

Bugs can affect us in many different ways depending on where we live and the time of the year. Even in colder climates like Alaska, bugs can be a problem. Steve Kroschel of the Kroschel Wildlife Centre in Haines, Alaska, reports that the hungry black flies arrive in late spring. They love to suck human blood, and their sting hurts more than a mosquito bite.

The caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are so bothered by mosquitoes that they migrate east toward Canada in large herds to get away from them. In late May, the big female mosquitoes that survived the winter lay eggs in the wetlands. When the eggs hatch, the mosquitoes swarm in clouds, invading everywhere. ―They are also clever in squeezing between the logs in the log cabin, or reminding you if the doors are not shut tight or the window is open,‖ Kroschel said.

A type of tiny aphid called "No-See-Ums" also like to bite, and they affect many animals from mice to moose. These small bugs cause big animals like caribou to stop, shake, and roll all day long. Pesky bugs aren’t all bad. They serve a purpose, too. Other animals love to eat them, so they provide the food needed for the birds, spiders and others to survive. They are an important part of the food chain for some, but pests for others.

1. Bugs Near You 

Think about where you live and the kinds of bugs you see at different times of the year. Talk with other students and compare notes. Use the Internet or books to find the correct names of these bugs and learn facts about them. Make a bug calendar that shows which bugs occur in which months of the year in your area.

2. Pesticides 

One of the ways that humans deal with pesky bugs is to use insecticides or pesticides. These are chemicals that kill the bugs. Using books or the Internet, find some common pesticides that kill common bugs like ants or spiders. See if there are any side effects of using these chemicals. See also if there are some other ways to get rid of these bugs without using pesticides. Discuss your findings with others.