Fear of insects (entomophobia)
En español: lee sobre este miedo en Fobias.org.
Wasps at a picnic, a moth at the window, ants in the kitchen. A fear of insects can make summer and the outdoors feel like something to get through.
Summer can be something to enjoy again. Many people find that with the right help, a wasp at a picnic or a moth at the window stops taking over.
Use code PHOBIA at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49. Outside the UK? $29.50.
Understanding this fear
Entomophobia is an intense fear or disgust towards insects. It might focus on one type, such as wasps, bees, moths, cockroaches or ants, or spread to many crawling and flying creatures. Being wary of a wasp is sensible. With a phobia, the sight or buzz of an insect can bring on panic, and you might plan your days around avoiding them.
It is one of the more common animal phobias. One estimate suggests around 6 per cent of Americans have it, though figures vary. It often starts in childhood after a sting or fright, or by watching a parent panic, but it can also appear later in life. For some people the main feeling is fear of being stung or bitten, while for others it is disgust at the way insects move or swarm.
Common triggers
- Wasps buzzing around food or drink
- Bees near flowers
- Moths fluttering towards lights
- Flies landing on skin
- Ants or beetles crawling indoors
- Swarms of midges or gnats
- Cockroaches abroad
- Something tickling your skin unexpectedly
Where it shows up
- Picnics, barbecues and beer gardens
- Gardens and parks in summer
- Camping and caravan holidays
- Bedrooms with the window open at night
- Kitchens and bins
- Hot countries and holiday accommodation
- Woodland walks and fields
Symptoms
In your body
- Racing heart
- Sudden jumping or flailing
- Skin crawling or itching
- Sweating
- Fast breathing
- Shaking or feeling sick
In your mind
- It is going to sting me or land in my hair
- I cannot relax while it is in the room
- Feeling disgusted or dirty
- Constantly scanning for movement
- Dread before summer or outdoor events
What you might do
- Avoiding eating outdoors
- Keeping windows shut even in hot weather
- Leaving a room until someone removes the insect
- Wearing long sleeves or checking clothes and bedding
- Choosing holidays or plans to avoid insects
What causes it
Many people can trace the fear back to a sting, a bite or a moment when an insect got trapped in their clothes or hair as a child. Watching a parent or sibling panic around wasps teaches the same response. Insects are fast, small and unpredictable, which makes it hard to feel in control. Disgust plays a part too, as we are wired to be wary of things that crawl on food or skin. Swatting, fleeing and avoidance all bring short-term relief, which teaches the brain that insects really were a danger.
How it can affect your life
Entomophobia can make summer feel like something to get through rather than enjoy. People may avoid barbecues, beer gardens, parks or camping, and keep windows shut on hot nights. Holidays abroad can feel risky, and a sudden reaction to a wasp while driving or carrying something can be unsafe. Children’s outdoor activities and family days out can become stressful.
Things that can help day to day
- Practise staying still and breathing slowly when a wasp or bee is near, rather than swatting
- Cover food and drinks outdoors and use fly screens so you feel more in control
- Look at calm pictures or videos of insects and build up slowly
- Notice disaster thoughts and remind yourself that most insects are harmless
- If an insect gets in the car, pull over safely before dealing with it
When to get help
If the fear is stopping you going outside, enjoying summer or travelling, it is worth getting help, and your GP is a good first port of call if anxiety is affecting daily life. If you have ever had a serious reaction to a sting, such as swelling of the face or trouble breathing, speak to your GP about it, and always call 999 for those signs.
How I can help
If you’ve tried to talk yourself out of this fear and it hasn’t worked, that isn’t a lack of willpower. A phobia is an alarm your mind learned, and logic alone rarely switches it off.
With a fear of insects, I first find out which creature, which moment and which feeling sits at the centre of it, as a wasp fear is often quite different from a moth fear. Over Zoom, using hypnosis and NLP, I help you revisit early frights from a calm, safe place so the alarm can update. We then rehearse sitting in a garden or beer garden while staying relaxed. Many clients find they can enjoy the outdoors again, while still taking sensible care around stinging insects.
I’ve spent 17 years in clinical practice and helped more than 1,000 people with phobias. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, both with Distinction.
Common questions
Why do some people panic around wasps?
Many have been stung or seen someone panic as a child. The buzzing and unpredictable flight make it hard to feel in control, so the body goes straight into alarm.
Is fear of insects the same as fear of spiders?
Not quite. Spiders are arachnids, and fear of spiders is a separate phobia, although many people with entomophobia are uneasy about both.
When is an insect sting an emergency?
Call 999 if someone has swelling of the lips, mouth or throat, trouble breathing, feels faint or confused after a sting. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Where does it come from?
Often a sting or a fright as a child, or watching someone else panic. The speed and unpredictability of small creatures keeps it going.
How do sessions work?
I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to insects. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.
How many sessions will I need?
Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.
Further reading: Cleveland Clinic: Entomophobia (fear of insects) · Anxiety UK: Phobias · NHS: Phobias
Ready to start?
A short call is the simplest next step. We’ll talk about your fear, what you’d like to feel instead, and whether I’m the right person to help.
- Take the free test at the top of this page to see how strong your fear is.
- Book a 30 minute call. Use code PHOBIA at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49 ($29.50 outside the UK).
- Start your sessions over Zoom from wherever you live, or face to face in Hertfordshire.
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