Are you afraid of insects?

It’s perfectly normal to have a startle response when an insect flies close or surprises us when found on a plant. Most of us can just brush it off, but for some, entomophobia or fear of insects elicits anxiety or fear when seeing or even thinking about insects. The intensity ranges from mild to severe, but these feelings are real and alarming.

Those with severe anxiety or fear may avoid going outdoors, not engage in gardening activities or resort to using insecticides which doesn’t solve the problem and disrupts the balance of your ecosystem.

Sadder still, people affected by entomophobia miss the opportunity to enjoy nature and all the benefits that brings to their quality of life.

The good news is that treatments for entomophobia are available. Talk your doctor.

For more information, read: health line article about entomophobia

This article was funded by the City of Saskatoon through our Healthy Yards partnership, the Cyril Capling Trust Fund of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and the Department of Plant Sciences. Thank you all for helping us grow!