DON’T LET THE BUGS BUG YOU THIS SPRING
By: Jeff Dorsett, MSHS
GAME ON. As we leave winter
behind us and approach spring, many
of us are yearning to get outdoors, to
breathe fresh air, and to once again feel
the warmth of the sun. For the more
sports-minded, spring is a perfect time
for getting back to shooting some hoops,
working on your pass, or hitting the
green. Yes, spring has something to offer
all of us. Spring is also a time when
mosquitoes and other insects begin to
feed. As the swarms descend, we scurry
to our cabinets or first aid kits to find the
long forgotten, often synthetic, chemicalbased repellents, in hopes of warding off
the feeding frenzy. However, there are
several safety concerns related to both
environmental and human health, with
the use of synthetic chemicals to control
insects and other pests.1 Therefore,
now is a good time to brush up on
the benefits of essential oils and their
repelling properties. Just like preparing
for a sport or other outdoor activity,
protecting oneself from pests requires
knowledge and planning.
The Best Offense Is a Good
Defense
Arguably, no defense is better than
Mother Nature’s offerings. Nature has
granted every living organism unique
abilities and mechanisms to fight for its
continued survival.1 For example, to ensure
our continued survival, humans have the
ability to run, hide, or fight when presented
with an immediate threat. Had we lacked
these basic abilities throughout history,
our species would have ceased to exist.
The same is true for other mobile creatures.
But what about nature’s less mobile
inhabitants (e.g. plants) that lack such
defensive mobility? How have they survived
for millennia without these abilities?
Survival of the Fittest
Because they are stationary, all plants
have developed some sort of physical and/
or chemical adaptation that offer
protection from environmental threats.
Many plants have thorns, barbs, or spines
(think rose stems, cactus, stinging nettle,
etc.) that physically deter larger animals
from consuming or damaging them.
Although these physical adaptations offer
a barrier of protection against larger
animals, such defensive physical features