Neither rain nor drought, neither pool nor park crowds, neither pollen nor pollution will keep me inside this summer. These are vows I have taken and will abide by for the remainder of the season. You can add bugs to this list, too \u2013 for better or worse.<\/p>\n

After last summer, we know the risks of Zika<\/a> and how to stay prepared<\/a>. We know that fire ants are nicknamed \u201cred devils\u201d for good reason, and we know to check all the crevices of our people and pets for ticks.<\/p>\n

But there are some good guys out there, too. My goal, along with summer solidarity, is to raise kids who don\u2019t run screaming from all things that creep and crawl. Critters can be good. Here are a few to love:<\/p>\n

Bumblebee<\/h1>\n

Save the bees<\/a>! Seriously. We need these guys to spread the pollen to keep the crops growing and honey flowing. We need those little fuzzy bodies to tip-toe through the daffodils and make the magic happen, because we certainly can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

We need a \u201cBee Movie 3\u201d, and we need more flower gardens to show signs of life. If the kids in \u201cHoney I Shrunk the Kids\u201d can ride bees like pterodactyls, then surely, we can at least give them some air space.<\/p>\n

Firefly<\/h1>\n

The firefly can synchronize its lighting flashes<\/a> with hundreds of its friends. When have you ever coordinated something to that effect? And what is summer without a few nights spent trying to catch a few in jars or cupped palms?<\/p>\n

Firefly catching is the one activity I will break bedtime for, and perhaps because of that, it\u2019s the one that makes the best memories. Unless you forget to poke air holes in the jar lids. Then the devastation is full-scale. Not that I\u2019m speaking from experience.<\/p>\n