Understanding the Fear of Insects or Entomophobia

Understanding the Fear of Insects or Entomophobia Phobias Types Print Understanding the Fear of Insects or Entomophobia By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on April 28, 2019 Cheyenne Montgomery / Getty Images More in Phobias Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Entomophobia, sometimes known as insectophobia, is the fear of insects. The fear is relatively common in the US, particularly in urban areas where coming into contact with a bug is fairly unusual because of the lack of interaction with nature. Urban dwellers fears of insects often serve as fodder for situation comedies and reality shows that depict their sudden transition to rural or island life. Many people who have never been exposed to this life can struggle because of the prevalence and pervasiveness of insects in living areas or they become overly aware of them in public spaces. Although they are not technically insects, the fear of spiders is the most prevalent form of entomophobia. Other commonly feared bugs include bees, ants, cockroaches and flies such as butterflies and moths. Many people fear bugs in general, reacting in panic to any insect or related creature that crosses their path. Fear of Contamination In many cases of entomophobia, the sufferer is afraid of becoming contaminated by insects. Many bugs, such as cockroaches and flies, do carry disease. However, people with contamination phobias take prudent cleanliness to an extreme. In addition, disgust there is a reaction that often causes symptoms of anxiety. A variety of research performed in the 2000s showed that we react more strongly to creatures that we find disgusting than we do to animals that may be more inherently dangerous. Perhaps this is an evolutionary response to our ancestors misunderstandings of disease prevention. Fear of Being Bitten Some people worry that they will be bitten by an insect. Specific worries run the gamut from the fear of pain to the fear of illness. Legitimate allergic reactions, particularly to bee stings and fire ant bites, do exist, as do legitimately venomous insects, but by in large, the fear of common insects such as house flies, cockroaches and the like do not warrant the fear of being bitten. The fear of triggering a medical condition is never considered a phobia. However, the vast majority of insect bites or stings cause little more than an annoyance, and most fears of being bitten are out of proportion to the risks. Fear of Infestation Some people worry about their homes or bodies becoming infested with bugs. According to an article in the Cultural Entomology Digest, people with this fear often bring items that they believe to be bugs to pest control officials. These specimens, gathered around the house, turn out to be bits of lint, scabs or dust, rather than the feared bugs. In the article, researcher Phillip Weinstein points out that infestation fears may be indicative of delusional thoughts rather than a simple phobia. It is up to the treatment provider to carefully analyze the clients thoughts and behaviors in order to accurately diagnose and treat the issue. The fear of insects is relatively common but does not need to take over your life. The fear responds well to a variety of short-term treatment methods. One of the most effective treatments is MEE or mere exposure effect, where entomophobes are introduced to insects in a controlled and intentional way. With a bit of hard work, you can beat even the most stubborn entomophobia.