Killing bugs. It's a multi-billion dollar a year business. Scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and entomologist have created some very interesting ways to help us zap, squash, spray, trap, flush, sterilize, freeze, and fry bugs into oblivion. But recently, these professionals have been doing something a little less dramatic, they have been studying them.

Bugs have already given the world countless items and ideas that make our lives a bit more easy and sweet. The obvious ones are bumble bees pollinate flowers and create honey, ladybugs eat plant destroying aphids, orb weaver spiders devour insects by the web load, and silk does come from silk worms, not China. Springtails, worms, millipedes, and roaches clean up forests, jungles, and backyards turning decaying matter into renewable soil. Dragonflies catch flies and mosquitoes in their mouth while flying giving us the concept of fast-food. Rave party people can thank the lighting bug for teaching scientists how to make light without the heat. Can you say, "light-stick?" And the Chinese learned the art of paper-making from wasps.

Still no love for the bug? Take into consideration that without bugs called scale insects we wouldn't have shellac. Shellac? Guess how many items you use on a daily basis that contained shellac. Let's start with adhesives, textiles, ammunition, cosmetics like shampoos and mascara, paints, inks, electronics, coating for pills, and since you've read this far I might as well tell you. Shellac is used in foods. Companies use shellac to coat jelly beans, gum, and marzipan. Avocadoes, lemons, oranges, and apples are often coated with shellac to give it a high gloss shine. Thank goodness my apple had no worms!

And let us not forget Spanish flies. Yes, I know this is a family article but let me bust some myths about this right here and now. Spanish flies are really not flies. They are beetles called blister beetles and they do not make good aphrodisiacs. What they do make is a toxin called cantharidan that doctors have used for centuries to treat warts. This is where the term Beetle Juice actually comes from. Still not convinced that we need bugs?        

During the Civil War, military medics noticed that the infected wounds on injured soldiers healed quicker when maggots were present on the wound versus those wounds that did not have maggots. In fact, thousands of limbs and lives were saved by these helpful hungry larvae. Maggots eat only decaying flesh which helps clean the wound of infection, prevents the spread of disease, and allows the wound to aerate and heal properly. Doctors still use them today in hospitals around the world and right here in the United States.

Any tummy tuckers out there? If you have had cosmetic or reconstructive surgery there is a good chance there was more than a doctor and nurse in the operating room. Leeches are commonly use (but not talked about) during surgeries to keep blood flowing. Leeches create an enzyme that prevents blood from clotting which can be helpful during many types of delicate surgery. I'll skip the details but…."Nurse? Scalpel. Forceps. Leech."     

Consider that there are more species of insects than mammals, reptiles, and birds combined! In fact, there are more bugs in the world than all other creatures put together! No one really knows how many species of bugs there are in the world, but scientists have documented over 290,000 species of beetles, 112,000 species of butterflies and moths, 105,000 species of bees and wasps, and yes, over 150 species of mosquitoes which is a major food source in the food chain.

With more bugs species than plant species you can only imagine the undiscovered uses, benefits and cures we can find. Bee venom is already being used to treat everything from rheumatism to PMS. Sea slugs called Spotted Sea Hares produce an ink-like substance that shows anti-HIV activity and inhibits bacterial growth in recent studies. Scientists are close to reproducing the molecular makeup of spider silk, the strongest natural substance made on earth. Spider silk is more than 20 times stronger than the same thickness of steal…and it's flexible! One day bridges will be supported by this silk, bullet proof vest will be made from it, and buttons will never fall off shirts again!

If none of this has changed your mind about bugs then consider that Scientists have discovered that the much feared Deathstalker scorpion may really be a lifesaver. Their venom contains chlorotoxin, a unique mixture of enzymes and proteins. Chlorotoxin attaches to cancer cells leaving healthy cells alone. One day this might prove to be a successful delivery system for cancer destroying agents and radioactive atoms. Studies have also shown that chlorotoxin may even keep cancer cells from moving or shrinking making the cancer less likely to spread. NewYork-Presbyterian recently completed a Phase II clinical trial and things look hopeful.

From shellac to silk, from honey to healing, bugs give us so much more good than bad. Encourage your children to play, explore, and interact with nature. Let it be okay to have a pet spider or millipede. Paint butterflies on your cheeks and let ladybugs crawl up your arms. Because while you may not love the bug like I do, please consider all the things we have, and the people we may have with us longer, because of nature's fascinating little creatures - bugs.