how many of you are afraid of insects anyone okay
anyone okay
anyone okay is anybody terrified oh wow okay
is anybody terrified oh wow okay
is anybody terrified oh wow okay so then my guess is that this story will
so then my guess is that this story will
so then my guess is that this story will probably resonate with you a bit you see
probably resonate with you a bit you see
probably resonate with you a bit you see I used to be absolutely terrified of
I used to be absolutely terrified of
I used to be absolutely terrified of insects even though this picture kind of
insects even though this picture kind of
insects even though this picture kind of betrays that point just a bit let’s take
betrays that point just a bit let’s take
betrays that point just a bit let’s take this one down for a second
this one down for a second
this one down for a second no just white screened it for a second
no just white screened it for a second
no just white screened it for a second all right perfect
all right perfect
all right perfect so thank you so I used to be absolutely
so thank you so I used to be absolutely
so thank you so I used to be absolutely terrified of insects and it’s really
terrified of insects and it’s really
terrified of insects and it’s really interesting because I don’t know a lot
interesting because I don’t know a lot
interesting because I don’t know a lot of people that were quite as phobic as I
of people that were quite as phobic as I
of people that were quite as phobic as I was I was a little kid though right on
was I was a little kid though right on
was I was a little kid though right on the cusp of being seven and I used to
the cusp of being seven and I used to
the cusp of being seven and I used to have nightmares about insects I would
have nightmares about insects I would
have nightmares about insects I would wake up in the middle of the night wake
wake up in the middle of the night wake
wake up in the middle of the night wake up my parents in at least one point my
up my parents in at least one point my
up my parents in at least one point my dad had to come into the room and step
dad had to come into the room and step
dad had to come into the room and step on imaginary insects before I would calm
on imaginary insects before I would calm
on imaginary insects before I would calm down enough to go to sleep so this was a
down enough to go to sleep so this was a
down enough to go to sleep so this was a problem and with siblings being the
problem and with siblings being the
problem and with siblings being the wonderful blessing from God that they
wonderful blessing from God that they
wonderful blessing from God that they are my older sister found ways to amuse
are my older sister found ways to amuse
are my older sister found ways to amuse herself with this situation
herself with this situation
herself with this situation I hope this ends up on the internet so
I hope this ends up on the internet so
I hope this ends up on the internet so Ashley can see this Ashley used to find
Ashley can see this Ashley used to find
Ashley can see this Ashley used to find the largest insects that she could find
the largest insects that she could find
the largest insects that she could find in our yard and she would put them on me
in our yard and she would put them on me
in our yard and she would put them on me and then yell out from behind me Sammy
and then yell out from behind me Sammy
and then yell out from behind me Sammy there’s a bug on you and I would proceed
there’s a bug on you and I would proceed
there’s a bug on you and I would proceed to run around in circles yelling and she
to run around in circles yelling and she
to run around in circles yelling and she would just laugh and enjoy herself
would just laugh and enjoy herself
would just laugh and enjoy herself because you know sisters so there was a
because you know sisters so there was a
because you know sisters so there was a point where I didn’t even really want to
point where I didn’t even really want to
point where I didn’t even really want to go outside very much anymore
go outside very much anymore
go outside very much anymore this had definitely reached the point of
this had definitely reached the point of
this had definitely reached the point of being a phobia it was starting to change
being a phobia it was starting to change
being a phobia it was starting to change the way that I lived my life thankfully
the way that I lived my life thankfully
the way that I lived my life thankfully I have very wise parents because they
I have very wise parents because they
I have very wise parents because they produced this really interesting mantra
produced this really interesting mantra
produced this really interesting mantra people fear what they don’t understand
people fear what they don’t understand
people fear what they don’t understand that’s what they told me as what a six
that’s what they told me as what a six
that’s what they told me as what a six seven year old kid trying to figure out
seven year old kid trying to figure out
seven year old kid trying to figure out how to deal with this they told me
how to deal with this they told me
how to deal with this they told me people fear what they don’t understand
people fear what they don’t understand
people fear what they don’t understand and that mantra still echoes through the
and that mantra still echoes through the
and that mantra still echoes through the walls of my life now it changes the way
walls of my life now it changes the way
walls of my life now it changes the way that I tackle problem
that I tackle problem
that I tackle problem it changes the way that I handle the
it changes the way that I handle the
it changes the way that I handle the subject of fear see at the time I was a
subject of fear see at the time I was a
subject of fear see at the time I was a card-carrying seven-year-old a library
card-carrying seven-year-old a library
card-carrying seven-year-old a library card carrying seven year old and my
card carrying seven year old and my
card carrying seven year old and my parents took me to the library and
parents took me to the library and
parents took me to the library and dropped me off and strongly encouraged
dropped me off and strongly encouraged
dropped me off and strongly encouraged me to hang out in the entomology section
me to hang out in the entomology section
me to hang out in the entomology section and they did this for an entire summer
and they did this for an entire summer
and they did this for an entire summer where I would just go there and hang out
where I would just go there and hang out
where I would just go there and hang out in the entomology section and read
in the entomology section and read
in the entomology section and read through the books there and before that
through the books there and before that
through the books there and before that summer ended not only had I read through
summer ended not only had I read through
summer ended not only had I read through all of the insect books in the
all of the insect books in the
all of the insect books in the entomology section but I also knew what
entomology section but I also knew what
entomology section but I also knew what I wanted to be when I grew up riding
I wanted to be when I grew up riding
I wanted to be when I grew up riding back in the car with my mom I remember
back in the car with my mom I remember
back in the car with my mom I remember telling her I’m gonna be an entomologist
telling her I’m gonna be an entomologist
telling her I’m gonna be an entomologist when I grow up I’m sure she looked back
when I grow up I’m sure she looked back
when I grow up I’m sure she looked back and thought oh he’ll grow out of it but
and thought oh he’ll grow out of it but
and thought oh he’ll grow out of it but that did not happen
that did not happen
that did not happen you see it’s 20 years later exactly 20
you see it’s 20 years later exactly 20
you see it’s 20 years later exactly 20 years later and I’ll be getting my
years later and I’ll be getting my
years later and I’ll be getting my doctorate in entomology at the end of
doctorate in entomology at the end of
doctorate in entomology at the end of this year thank you so it’s true people
this year thank you so it’s true people
this year thank you so it’s true people fear what they don’t understand it just
fear what they don’t understand it just
fear what they don’t understand it just took knowledge for me to take these
took knowledge for me to take these
took knowledge for me to take these insects from being the focal point of my
insects from being the focal point of my
insects from being the focal point of my McCobb fears to being this enthralling
McCobb fears to being this enthralling
McCobb fears to being this enthralling passion that I have in my life now I get
passion that I have in my life now I get
passion that I have in my life now I get really excited when I talk about insects
really excited when I talk about insects
really excited when I talk about insects I own oil with my excitement when I talk
I own oil with my excitement when I talk
I own oil with my excitement when I talk about insects it’s ridiculous like okay
about insects it’s ridiculous like okay
about insects it’s ridiculous like okay everybody knows that guy right everybody
everybody knows that guy right everybody
everybody knows that guy right everybody has met this guy before he’s like oh my
has met this guy before he’s like oh my
has met this guy before he’s like oh my gosh Bruce you have to see these
gosh Bruce you have to see these
gosh Bruce you have to see these pictures of my child at the spelling bee
pictures of my child at the spelling bee
pictures of my child at the spelling bee he was amazing so adorable you have to
he was amazing so adorable you have to
he was amazing so adorable you have to see him it is so cute look at these and
see him it is so cute look at these and
see him it is so cute look at these and they’re like how long is this gonna take
they’re like how long is this gonna take
they’re like how long is this gonna take he’s up twenty forty seventy minutes
he’s up twenty forty seventy minutes
he’s up twenty forty seventy minutes tops no you have to see these pictures
tops no you have to see these pictures
tops no you have to see these pictures I’m that guy and you guys are a captive
I’m that guy and you guys are a captive
I’m that guy and you guys are a captive audience so you have to see these
audience so you have to see these
audience so you have to see these pictures we could um perfect that oh my
pictures we could um perfect that oh my
pictures we could um perfect that oh my gosh this is my pride and joy this is
gosh this is my pride and joy this is
gosh this is my pride and joy this is Shane Shane everybody
Shane Shane everybody
Shane Shane everybody oh absolutely adorable Shane I found him
oh absolutely adorable Shane I found him
oh absolutely adorable Shane I found him at church um he was walking through the
at church um he was walking through the
at church um he was walking through the parking lot of the church and I was
parking lot of the church and I was
parking lot of the church and I was worried somebody would run him over he
worried somebody would run him over he
worried somebody would run him over he it’s the species it’s this is the
it’s the species it’s this is the
it’s the species it’s this is the Hickory Horned devil caterpillar and
Hickory Horned devil caterpillar and
Hickory Horned devil caterpillar and it’s funny because he was walking
it’s funny because he was walking
it’s funny because he was walking through the
through the
through the parking lot of church during a sermon
parking lot of church during a sermon
parking lot of church during a sermon about the devil so funny little
about the devil so funny little
about the devil so funny little coincidence there and Shane spent about
coincidence there and Shane spent about
coincidence there and Shane spent about three months looking and acting like a
three months looking and acting like a
three months looking and acting like a turd a lot of people call that the
turd a lot of people call that the
turd a lot of people call that the teenage face spent a lot of time in the
teenage face spent a lot of time in the
teenage face spent a lot of time in the in the teenage face and then he
in the teenage face and then he
in the teenage face and then he transitioned to this oh my gosh
transitioned to this oh my gosh
transitioned to this oh my gosh absolutely adorable he was still my
absolutely adorable he was still my
absolutely adorable he was still my pride and joy here but this was great
pride and joy here but this was great
pride and joy here but this was great because he would just sit on the side of
because he would just sit on the side of
because he would just sit on the side of my head and we watched Avatar The Last
my head and we watched Avatar The Last
my head and we watched Avatar The Last Airbender together it was perfect great
Airbender together it was perfect great
Airbender together it was perfect great stuff
stuff
stuff love Shane oh my goodness and oh oh
love Shane oh my goodness and oh oh
love Shane oh my goodness and oh oh Ernie and Bert those two they were
Ernie and Bert those two they were
Ernie and Bert those two they were inseparable people always ask me how do
inseparable people always ask me how do
inseparable people always ask me how do you know which ones Ernie which one is
you know which ones Ernie which one is
you know which ones Ernie which one is Bert you can’t tell look at how can you
Bert you can’t tell look at how can you
Bert you can’t tell look at how can you not absolutely adorable love the both of
not absolutely adorable love the both of
not absolutely adorable love the both of them so much look at that face look at
them so much look at that face look at
them so much look at that face look at how can you not love that face right
how can you not love that face right
how can you not love that face right there I have to wonder sometimes how did
there I have to wonder sometimes how did
there I have to wonder sometimes how did I spend so long being frightened by
I spend so long being frightened by
I spend so long being frightened by these creatures do you see Sally up
these creatures do you see Sally up
these creatures do you see Sally up there look at her just hanging out up
there look at her just hanging out up
there look at her just hanging out up there just an adorable mantis do you see
there just an adorable mantis do you see
there just an adorable mantis do you see that so cool oh and that so that’s my
that so cool oh and that so that’s my
that so cool oh and that so that’s my giant African millipede his name is
giant African millipede his name is
giant African millipede his name is Leroy wait that’s the wrong noise I
Leroy wait that’s the wrong noise I
Leroy wait that’s the wrong noise I think what you meant was Oh
think what you meant was Oh
think what you meant was Oh absolutely he’s incredible love that guy
absolutely he’s incredible love that guy
absolutely he’s incredible love that guy so one of the most fascinating things
so one of the most fascinating things
so one of the most fascinating things about these creatures they have tons of
about these creatures they have tons of
about these creatures they have tons of legs obviously and they have a separate
legs obviously and they have a separate
legs obviously and they have a separate brain in their body that controls the
brain in their body that controls the
brain in their body that controls the movement of each set of four legs so
movement of each set of four legs so
movement of each set of four legs so it’s really incredible because if you
it’s really incredible because if you
it’s really incredible because if you look at all the brains that you must
look at all the brains that you must
look at all the brains that you must have in their body it probably
have in their body it probably
have in their body it probably outnumbers the amount of people in this
outnumbers the amount of people in this
outnumbers the amount of people in this room right now
room right now
room right now incredible right oh my gosh who needs
incredible right oh my gosh who needs
incredible right oh my gosh who needs pop-up books when you got these guys
pop-up books when you got these guys
pop-up books when you got these guys love them love everything about them oh
love them love everything about them oh
love them love everything about them oh and you have to meet my oldest this is
and you have to meet my oldest this is
and you have to meet my oldest this is Harold Harold does the most adorable
Harold Harold does the most adorable
Harold Harold does the most adorable thing when he doesn’t want me to go to
thing when he doesn’t want me to go to
thing when he doesn’t want me to go to school in the morning he’ll just hang
school in the morning he’ll just hang
school in the morning he’ll just hang out on top of my book bag and I’m like
out on top of my book bag and I’m like
out on top of my book bag and I’m like come on I got to get to school just cute
come on I got to get to school just cute
come on I got to get to school just cute love it love everything about it so
love it love everything about it so
love it love everything about it so hopefully you guys are starting to
hopefully you guys are starting to
hopefully you guys are starting to understand what I mean when I say
understand what I mean when I say
understand what I mean when I say insects are fascinating but beyond that
insects are fascinating but beyond that
insects are fascinating but beyond that point fear is a barrier to progress it
point fear is a barrier to progress it
point fear is a barrier to progress it is a wall fear is something that can
is a wall fear is something that can
is a wall fear is something that can take it can take a molehill and turn it
take it can take a molehill and turn it
take it can take a molehill and turn it into a mountain fear can take an
into a mountain fear can take an
into a mountain fear can take an obstacle into wall when I think about
obstacle into wall when I think about
obstacle into wall when I think about all the time that I wasted being afraid
all the time that I wasted being afraid
all the time that I wasted being afraid of such incredible creatures I mean
of such incredible creatures I mean
of such incredible creatures I mean insects are amazing the fact that you
insects are amazing the fact that you
insects are amazing the fact that you can take everything that was in that
can take everything that was in that
can take everything that was in that that sack of guts and legs that we call
that sack of guts and legs that we call
that sack of guts and legs that we call a caterpillar and transition it into
a caterpillar and transition it into
a caterpillar and transition it into that only through the process of
that only through the process of
that only through the process of metamorphosis that is incredible
metamorphosis that is incredible
metamorphosis that is incredible oh and more I just you got to see the
oh and more I just you got to see the
oh and more I just you got to see the rest of the group so if you don’t take
rest of the group so if you don’t take
rest of the group so if you don’t take anything else away from what I have to
anything else away from what I have to
anything else away from what I have to say today please know that if you allow
say today please know that if you allow
say today please know that if you allow fear to control your life it will change
fear to control your life it will change
fear to control your life it will change the course of what you are able to
the course of what you are able to
the course of what you are able to accomplish and where you go fear is
accomplish and where you go fear is
accomplish and where you go fear is important in some ways it keeps us from
important in some ways it keeps us from
important in some ways it keeps us from doing crazy things it keeps us from
doing crazy things it keeps us from
doing crazy things it keeps us from lighting ourselves on fire because we
lighting ourselves on fire because we
lighting ourselves on fire because we fear that kind of pain fear is important
fear that kind of pain fear is important
fear that kind of pain fear is important in some ways but when we allow fear to
in some ways but when we allow fear to
in some ways but when we allow fear to take over when we allow fear to dominate
take over when we allow fear to dominate
take over when we allow fear to dominate how we
how we
how we about things then it becomes a barrier
about things then it becomes a barrier
about things then it becomes a barrier to progress then it becomes a wall so
to progress then it becomes a wall so
to progress then it becomes a wall so now that I’ve reached this place where
now that I’ve reached this place where
now that I’ve reached this place where bugs are kind of my thing
bugs are kind of my thing
bugs are kind of my thing I really have to think about just how
I really have to think about just how
I really have to think about just how many people there still are who are
many people there still are who are
many people there still are who are frightened of them who run from them who
frightened of them who run from them who
frightened of them who run from them who think they’re disgusting because yes I
think they’re disgusting because yes I
think they’re disgusting because yes I did become that annoying person that
did become that annoying person that
did become that annoying person that would not let you kill a spider that’s
would not let you kill a spider that’s
would not let you kill a spider that’s in your house I was that guy as a little
in your house I was that guy as a little
in your house I was that guy as a little kid I would literally dive in front of a
kid I would literally dive in front of a
kid I would literally dive in front of a shoe to keep a spider from being stepped
shoe to keep a spider from being stepped
shoe to keep a spider from being stepped on and then give you a lecture about the
on and then give you a lecture about the
on and then give you a lecture about the ecological principles behind predation
ecological principles behind predation
ecological principles behind predation it’s a spider it’s keeping the
it’s a spider it’s keeping the
it’s a spider it’s keeping the mosquitoes out of the house it’ll eat
mosquitoes out of the house it’ll eat
mosquitoes out of the house it’ll eat any cockroaches they’re so important
any cockroaches they’re so important
any cockroaches they’re so important don’t kill it that was me I was also
don’t kill it that was me I was also
don’t kill it that was me I was also really really really annoying because I
really really really annoying because I
really really really annoying because I was the worst one to watch movies with I
was the worst one to watch movies with I
was the worst one to watch movies with I remember being a little kid and watching
remember being a little kid and watching
remember being a little kid and watching The Lion King I’m with my mom I’m like
The Lion King I’m with my mom I’m like
The Lion King I’m with my mom I’m like mom liked this movie because I mean
mom liked this movie because I mean
mom liked this movie because I mean there’s they’re supposed to be in Africa
there’s they’re supposed to be in Africa
there’s they’re supposed to be in Africa but there’s leaf cutter ants a leaf
but there’s leaf cutter ants a leaf
but there’s leaf cutter ants a leaf cutter answer endemic to South America
cutter answer endemic to South America
cutter answer endemic to South America and I just I feel like this movie is not
and I just I feel like this movie is not
and I just I feel like this movie is not ecologically accurate I really don’t
ecologically accurate I really don’t
ecologically accurate I really don’t understand how my parents got through it
understand how my parents got through it
understand how my parents got through it I’m sure at some point they thought to
I’m sure at some point they thought to
I’m sure at some point they thought to themselves what have we created but I
themselves what have we created but I
themselves what have we created but I have become sort of a proselytizer for
have become sort of a proselytizer for
have become sort of a proselytizer for insects because there are a lot of
insects because there are a lot of
insects because there are a lot of people who are still so frightened of
people who are still so frightened of
people who are still so frightened of them that they don’t recognize how
them that they don’t recognize how
them that they don’t recognize how incredible there are they are there are
incredible there are they are there are
incredible there are they are there are 10 quintillion individual insects on
10 quintillion individual insects on
10 quintillion individual insects on this planet that is 10 followed by 17
this planet that is 10 followed by 17
this planet that is 10 followed by 17 zeros if you took all of the human
zeros if you took all of the human
zeros if you took all of the human beings on this planet and put them on a
beings on this planet and put them on a
beings on this planet and put them on a scale and you took all the insects on
scale and you took all the insects on
scale and you took all the insects on this planet and put them on a scale they
this planet and put them on a scale they
this planet and put them on a scale they would outweigh the entire biomass of
would outweigh the entire biomass of
would outweigh the entire biomass of humanity 300 times they outweigh the
humanity 300 times they outweigh the
humanity 300 times they outweigh the biomass of humanity they are the
biomass of humanity they are the
biomass of humanity they are the ecosystem engineers that keep this
ecosystem engineers that keep this
ecosystem engineers that keep this entire planet running we owe so much to
entire planet running we owe so much to
entire planet running we owe so much to insects if just one of the 1 million
insects if just one of the 1 million
insects if just one of the 1 million described species of insects were to
described species of insects were to
described species of insects were to disappear if we lost just the honeybee
disappear if we lost just the honeybee
disappear if we lost just the honeybee we would lose 1/3 of our diet
we would lose 1/3 of our diet
we would lose 1/3 of our diet on with them can you believe that one
on with them can you believe that one
on with them can you believe that one third of every bite of food that reaches
third of every bite of food that reaches
third of every bite of food that reaches your mouth honey bees are responsible
your mouth honey bees are responsible
your mouth honey bees are responsible for it they are the reason why our
for it they are the reason why our
for it they are the reason why our planet is able to operate smoothly our
planet is able to operate smoothly our
planet is able to operate smoothly our ecosystems are based on them really
ecosystems are based on them really
ecosystems are based on them really honestly I mean if how best can I say
honestly I mean if how best can I say
honestly I mean if how best can I say this thank you I think that was perfect
this thank you I think that was perfect
this thank you I think that was perfect Beyonce just nobody can say it better
Beyonce just nobody can say it better
Beyonce just nobody can say it better than her I love that thank you bee I
than her I love that thank you bee I
than her I love that thank you bee I love you girl thank you please don’t sue
love you girl thank you please don’t sue
love you girl thank you please don’t sue me for using that please don’t sue
me for using that please don’t sue
me for using that please don’t sue insects are incredible and this isn’t
insects are incredible and this isn’t
insects are incredible and this isn’t the only way that that I seek to convey
the only way that that I seek to convey
the only way that that I seek to convey that it’s not just through giving these
that it’s not just through giving these
that it’s not just through giving these talks I’ve been trying to find just how
talks I’ve been trying to find just how
talks I’ve been trying to find just how many ways I can let people know that
many ways I can let people know that
many ways I can let people know that insects are amazing incredible creatures
insects are amazing incredible creatures
insects are amazing incredible creatures and another one of those ways well I’ve
and another one of those ways well I’ve
and another one of those ways well I’ve actually started blogging about the
actually started blogging about the
actually started blogging about the subject so there’s the doctor bugs blog
subject so there’s the doctor bugs blog
subject so there’s the doctor bugs blog your friendly neighborhood entomologist
your friendly neighborhood entomologist
your friendly neighborhood entomologist people can write in with questions and
people can write in with questions and
people can write in with questions and I’ll answer them on the blog it’s really
I’ll answer them on the blog it’s really
I’ll answer them on the blog it’s really oh okay all right we’re gonna go back
oh okay all right we’re gonna go back
oh okay all right we’re gonna go back for a second oh so the the blog is
for a second oh so the the blog is
for a second oh so the the blog is really fun because I get to be
really fun because I get to be
really fun because I get to be interactive with people and answer
interactive with people and answer
interactive with people and answer exactly what questions they’re asking
exactly what questions they’re asking
exactly what questions they’re asking about insects in addition to that sort
about insects in addition to that sort
about insects in addition to that sort of a spinoff from that was that I
of a spinoff from that was that I
of a spinoff from that was that I actually created a web show around the
actually created a web show around the
actually created a web show around the subject to help people get more
subject to help people get more
subject to help people get more comfortable with insects
comfortable with insects
comfortable with insects [Music]
so yeah um if any of you are still
so yeah um if any of you are still frightened of insects definitely look
frightened of insects definitely look
frightened of insects definitely look that up because I’ve been working very
that up because I’ve been working very
that up because I’ve been working very hard to make sure that people are aware
hard to make sure that people are aware
hard to make sure that people are aware every day of their lives that insects
every day of their lives that insects
every day of their lives that insects are the most fascinating things you have
are the most fascinating things you have
are the most fascinating things you have ever stepped on and I hope by the end of
ever stepped on and I hope by the end of
ever stepped on and I hope by the end of this presentation or least by the end of
this presentation or least by the end of
this presentation or least by the end of your time interacting with insects that
your time interacting with insects that
your time interacting with insects that you are well aware of that – thank you
you are well aware of that – thank you
you are well aware of that – thank you very much for your time
very much for your time
very much for your time [Applause]
”
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