1) Entomophobia

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1) Entomophobia

• Persistent irrational fear of and compelling
  desire to AVOID insects, mites, spiders, or
  similar phobic objects.
• Significant distress from the disturbance despite
  recognition by the individual that the fear is
  excessive or unreasonable.
• Not due to another mental disorder such as
  schizophrenia or obsessive compulsive disorder

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Just curious
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2) Delusional Parasitosis

• An unshakable FALSE BELIEF that live organisms
  are present in the skin. Type depends upon the
  parasitological knowledge of the patient.
• Patients with delusions of parasitosis experience
  the state of being infested. This is
  fundamentally different from having a fear of
  becoming infested, which falls into the category
  of entomophobia.

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Delusional Parasitosis

• The infestation is described by the sufferer as
  
• In or under the skin enter and leave skin.
• Around or just inside body openings.
• Internally, particularly the stomach or
  intestines.
• In the vicinity of the sufferer, particularly in
  the home but can go to work.

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Delusional Parasitosis

• Long time biting, stinging, burning, crawling
  sensations.
• Has been seen by numerous physicians,
  exterminators, parasitologists, hygienists and
  entomologists,
• Consistently and fiercely rejects negative
  findings or any that deviated from their
  perceptions
• Sufferers often exhibit the "matchbox sign,"
  where theydeliver or mail containers holding
  samples - dust, lint, skin scrapings, toilet
  paper, dried blood or scabs hair or other pieces
  of human tissue (Q tips)

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General profile

• Typically well educated, often professional.
• Provide clear history, detailed description of
  parasite and life history.
• Black or white bugs that change color.
• Crawl on skin, jump, tunnel in skin
• Bite or sting

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Delusional Parasitosis

• Self mutilation from attempts to dig out the
  parasites, ranging from scratches to deep ulcers
• One or more family members may share the
  delusion
• Use of home remedies, coupled with a distrust of
  prescription drugs,
• Self exposure to often dangerous levels of
  pesticides.

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Delusional Parasitosis

• Prognosis is variable, and often dependent on
  those other diagnosed or undiagnosed disease
  complexes which contribute to the symptoms.
• Prognosis is very poor in paranoid conditions
  since these are usually not suitable for
  psychotherapy/ analysis.

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3) Illusions of parasitosis

• Illusions of parasitosis result from
  environmental stimuli and are common in groups.
  They have a contagious nature.
• Dermatitis, itching, formication and bites
  proportional to the causative stimulus) are the
  most common symptoms, and, in co-workers, a
  phobia of being affected.

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Meth mites
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Formication speed bumps, meth mites, crank
bugs

• One of the many side effects of crystal meth
  addiction is formication, aka, speed bumps, meth
  sores, crank bugs.    Heavy stimulant use causes
  a rise in body temperature and increased blood
  flow to the skin to counteract it.    The
  produced sweat contains an enzyme that increases
  blood flow to the skin even more.    When the
  sweat evaporates, it removes the protective
  sebaceous oil which coats the skin.    The
  combined effects of dehydration, sweating and
  removal of the sebaceous oil on the skin create a
  sensation on the nerve endings on the skin and
  cause the addict feelings of something irritating
  or "crawling" on or under the skin.

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Morgellons Disease

• Skin lesions accompanied by intense itching
• Crawling sensations on and under the skin, often
  compared to insects moving, stinging or biting
• Fatigue significant enough to interfere with
  daily activity
• Inability to concentrate and difficulty with
  short-term memory
• Behavioral changes
• Fibers which can be white, blue, green, red or
  black in and on the lesions

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Overloaded?
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Human biters
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Illusions of parasitosis

• Associations between the symptoms and personal
  office problems, overall loss
  of morale and efficiency.
• Environmental factors may be predisposing, such
  as a poor working environment, dull routine work,
  or too much pressure.

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• Important to exclude a true entomological cause
  cannot be over-emphasized. An experienced
  pest-control officer or competent industrial
  epidemiologist should be consulted.

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Invisible itch cases
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1) Itchy kids

• Day care kids with bug bites

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Bird mites

• Barely visible mites live on poultry, pigeons and
  starlings, etc. They leave the body of a dead
  host in large numbers to wander over walls,
  ceilings and bedding, seeking a new host.
• Bites can cause itching and dermatitis. This mite
  can survive two to three weeks away from the
  host.

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2) Mystery Rash

• Persistent red rash on boys face.
• Suspect mites or insects but none found.

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Boys room and cause of irritation
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3) Paper mites?
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Symptom- itching and rash
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Site visit

• Yards and yards of shelves, hundreds of folders
  of forms
• Workers handling paperwork all day

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Cause paper splinters
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• Response depends upon the person's knowledge and
  experience as well as the type and number of
  insects.
• Community level, excessive cleanliness,' with
  overuse of insecticides, elimination of natural
  predators, and development of insecticide
  resistance

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High Tech Bug Control

• People have been given so much annoyance by
  insects and have not had yet an ideal means to
  kill them for a long time. Now this patented
  triple layered electric bug swatter
  kills/electrocutes all flying insects such as
  mosquitos, flies, nats and spiders on contact,
  "just by waving at them." It looks like a small
  tennis racket (4x19 inches). It has safety switch
  operation and 2 insulation outer layers for your
  protection. You can take it anywhere you go such
  as camping, BBQ, beach, and fishing. THIS IS NOT
  A TOY!

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FTC Warns Manufacturers and Retailers of
Ultrasonic Pest-control Devices

• The Federal Trade Commission's Division of
  Enforcement today announced that they have sent
  warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and
  retailers of ultrasonic pest-control devices,
  stating that efficacy claims about those products
  must be supported by scientific evidence. FTC
  staff reviewed print and catalog advertisements
  and conducted a "surf" of Internet sites
  marketing such devices. They found that many of
  the advertisements make explicit claims about the
  products' ability to eliminate rodents or repel
  insects. According to staff, these types of
  claims may not be in compliance with the FTC Act,
  which prohibits false and deceptive advertising.

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Overkill
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• LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An explosion at a house being
  fumigated with 30 fogger-style "bug bombs" burned
  a woman, shattered the windows and lifted the
  roof three inches, authorities said.
• The woman, whose identity was not immediately
  released, was treated at a hospital for first-
  and second-degree burns to her legs from the heat
  of the blast, fire spokesman Jim Wells said.
• "The lady had activated about 30 foggers, and
  while activating the last one in the kitchen
  area, an ignition source, possibly a stove pilot
  light or a water heater, caused an explosion,"
  Wells said.
• No more than three or four foggers should have
  been used, he added.
• There was no fire but the blast caused about
  30,000 damage to the 800-square-foot home, Wells
  said.

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Do it yourself pest control

• Dec 2003 San Deigo
• 1 can / 600 sq ft
• 470 sq ft home 19 cans

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• The role of the entomologist
• Dispel misconceptions which may be making the
  phobia worse.
• To put insects in a more positive light and to
  remove baseless fears.

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Course Objectives

• Learn fundamental principles of biology using
  insects as examples.
• Understand significant roles of insects in the
  world
• Change the way you look at the world around you.