Bug-eyed monsters or BEM as these insect monsters were known in SF circles, also successfully invaded the big screen with a string of creature features like "The Fly" (1958), "Phase IV" (1973), "Kingdom of the Spiders" (1977), and "Arachnophobia" (1990). The fact that these movies attracted a big audience only proves that man's concern for insects is timeless.

That concern becomes even more important when insects invade your home. No one wants to live with bugs; but whether we like it or not, they're here to stay and will always be a part of our lives.

Mohandas K. Gandhi was one person who loved insects. In keeping with his belief in ahisma or nonviolence toward all living things, the Mahatma would not kill mosquitoes, scorpions or even snakes.

Another insect lover was Publius Vergilius Maro or Virgil, the Roman poet known for the epic poem "Aeneid." Virgil once spent the equivalent of $100,000 for a friend's funeral. That friend was a common housefly which Virgil claimed was a dear pet.

The funeral ceremony brought together many Roman celebrities at Virgil's mansion on Esquiline Hill. An orchestra entertained the mourners and the fly was buried in a special mausoleum.

No one nowadays would think of following Gandhi or Virgil, considering that bugs are a bane to life and property, They can damage your home and harm your health. To make matters worse, they're multiplying fast.

There are 950,000 different species of some three million insects. A modern house contains about 452 of them. To rid your castle of insects, what should you do?

The easiest solution would be to run to the nearest grocery or supermarket and grab the first insecticide that you see.

But the wide array of products and formulas - not counting the nonchemical means of dealing with insects - is likely to confuse the average consumer.

Which product is best for you? What should you look for in an insecticide or insect repellent? Is the one you've chosen strong enough to banish bugs effectively without harming your loved ones and the environment?

This series will answer those questions and hopefully, help keep insects away from your home and your body. (Next: Diseases from flies.)

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