Introduction

Bugs – just mention this word and you get different reactions from people: fear, pain, anxiety, nuisance, disgust – the ew factor, crawly feeling, run for the bug swatter, bring out the can of raid, dismay – there goes my tomatoes.  On the other hand, some people enjoy the sight of butterflies, lady bugs and dragonflies.  We get a lot of swallowtail butterflies in the Okanagan valley in the summer and I love seeing them, makes me happy – maybe it is just me. There are millions of bugs around but only a few cause damage – less than 1% are pests.  A lot of bugs are good (please don’t roll your eyes).  They serve as food for humans.  2.1 to 2.5 billion people in the world eat insects on a regular basis. We enjoy insect products such as honey and we get wax, silk, dyes and chemicals from bugs. Bugs also serve as food for other animals such as bats, birds, fish, and pet food for birds, lizards and fish.

Bugs pollinate a lot of the foods we enjoy.  65% of all flowering plants need insects for pollination e.g. apples, cherries, berries, cucumbers, broccoli.  Bugs help break down organic matter. Without bugs there will be serious issues with manure in some places. We have to thank some of the flies and dung beetles that prevent the build-up of manure from large animals (imagine the stench).  When it comes to experimental animals, fruit flies are in the lead for genetic experiments.  Bugs are excellent indicators of ecological health. Mayflies are sensitive to pollutants in water and are used as indicators of water health. Last but not the least, bugs provide aesthetic values, e.g. the beauty of butterflies in a meadow, they provide inspiration for poets and there are some amazing insect photography these days.

Hi, my name is Susanna Acheampong and I am an entomologist (the bug lady) with the Ministry of Agriculture, British Columbia, Canada.  I have been working with the BC Ministry of Agriculture since 2008. I will be sharing information on bugs I encounter in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. 

Hope you follow us on our bug journey in the Okanagan. 

Enjoy the picture of a snake fly below.  It is one of my favourite insects.  Snake flies are good bugs and feed on aphids, insect eggs and caterpillars. They are harmless so don’t be afraid if you see one.

The Okanagan Valley is beautiful in the Spring. It is my favourite time of the year! Enjoy the pictures below.