Inspired by Insects

When Samuel Ramsey was little, he was afraid of bugs—bees, mosquitoes, you name it. He remembers a time when he was watching TV and felt something crawling across his chest. He looked under his shirt and was frightened to discover a large insect. “I was face-to-face with a sizable cockroach, just waving its antennas and looking at me,” he says.

Today, Ramsey is an entomologist (en-tuh-MAA-luh-juhst), or scientist who studies insects. He’s worked with bees, stink bugs, and even a 6-inch-long jungle nymph—one of the largest insects in the world! How did Ramsey change his mind about insects? It started with a trip to the local library with his mom.

Samuel Ramsey was afraid of bugs when he was little. He was scared of bees. Mosquitoes terrified him. He thought every bug was frightening! Ramsey remembers a time when he was watching TV. He felt something crawling across his chest. He looked under his shirt. There was a large insect! “I was face-to-face with a sizable cockroach, just waving its antennas and looking at me,” he says.

Now Ramsey is an entomologist (en-tuh-MAA-luh-juhst). An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects. He has worked with bees and stink bugs. He’s even held a jungle nymph that was 6 inches long. The jungle nymph is one of the largest insects in the world! How did Ramsey change his mind about insects? It started with a trip to the local library with his mom. 

Ramsey’s mom thought that if her son knew more about bugs, he might be less afraid of them. At the library, she encouraged him to read books about insects.

As Ramsey read, he learned that bugs don’t intend to hurt or scare people. Cockroaches, for example, crawl around because they’re trying to find food. Female mosquitoes bite people because they need nutrients from blood to lay eggs. “Learning that these creatures have their own motivations was amazing to me,” says Ramsey. “They aren’t just trying to be mean.”

Ramsey’s mom thought learning about bugs might make her son less afraid of them. She encouraged him to read books about insects at the library.

Books taught Ramsey that bugs don’t mean to hurt or scare people. Cockroaches crawl around because they are trying to find food. Female mosquitoes bite people because they need nutrients from blood to lay eggs. “Learning that these creatures have their own motivations was amazing to me,” says Ramsey. “They aren’t just trying to be mean.”

Ramsey earned an advanced college degree as an insect scientist. As a graduate student, he researched how to protect honeybees. About one-third of the food Americans eat comes from crops pollinated by honeybees.

Ramsey studied a tiny pest called the Varroa mite, which is native to Asia. Varroa mites feed on young honeybees in their nests. They can wipe out entire colonies. The mites have spread around the world, likely because people transported infested beehives. They’re now a big threat to honeybees and crops in the U.S.

Ramsey studied entomology in college. He got a degree as an insect scientist. He researched how to protect honeybees in graduate school. Honeybees pollinate plants and help them grow. About one-third of the food Americans eat comes from crops that are pollinated by honeybees.

Ramsey studied a tiny pest called the Varroa mite. This type of mite lives in Asia. Varroa mites eat young honeybees in their nests. The mites can kill whole colonies of honeybees. Varroa mites have spread around the world. This probably happened because people brought beehives that were infested with the mites to new countries. Varroa mites are now a big threat to honeybees and crops in the U.S. 

Ramsey also studies the Tropi mite, another pest that feeds on developing bees. These mites aren’t in the U.S. yet, but Ramsey still worries. “Tropi mites arriving in the U.S. would be a big problem,” he says. He’s studying how to prevent that from happening.

Another pest Ramsey studies is the Tropi mite. This mite also eats young bees. Tropi mites aren’t in the U.S. yet. But Ramsey is still worried. “Tropi mites arriving in the U.S. would be a big problem,” he says. He’s studying how to stop that from happening.

Ramsey believes that teaching people about bees and other insects is an important part of protecting them. He keeps a busy schedule giving interviews and presentations about bugs. He often goes by the name
“Dr. Sammy” when he speaks to the public. He hopes that sharing what he knows will help other people feel less afraid of insects.

Ramsey believes that teaching people about bees and other insects is an important part of protecting them. He is always busy giving interviews and presentations about bugs. He often calls himself “Dr. Sammy.” He hopes that he can help other people feel less afraid of insects by sharing what he knows. 

Ramsey has even come to appreciate cockroaches—up to a point. “They’re very curious about the world around them, which in my opinion is an endearing quality,” he says. “I just wish [their curiosity] wouldn’t lead them into people’s shirts.” 

Ramsey even likes cockroaches now. But not always. “They’re very curious about the world around them,” he says. “I just wish [their curiosity] wouldn’t lead them into people’s shirts.”

Use your knowledge of decimals to answer the questions.

Use your knowledge of decimals to answer the questions.