Friday, September 4, 2015

Human Behavior and Bugs - The Touchability Factor



Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on Tomato- Garden Lady Blog



Why can I touch one insect, but cower in fear from another?


What makes a bug too repulsive to handle?

In my vegetable garden I pluck stink bugs off tomatoes and drop them in jars of soap water. I've discovered this is the quickest way to get rid of them.
Stink Bug Close Up - Garden Lady Blog
Squash bugs are a slightly longer and faster bug that I need gloves to touch. I pick up centipedes to remove them from the house, and can handle lady bugs. Daddy-longlegs are easy to grab by one long leg and carry out of the house. They are harmless and slow. Most spiders scurry away and are difficult to identify. I wouldn't pick those up.
Squash Bug - Garden Lady Blog

Recently dry weather has driven large wood roaches into my home. These insects fill me with revulsion and fear. Normally a do-it-yourself-er, I called in a pest control company after sighting a half dozen of these. I will not touch them, but, I can squash them under my shoe.

Wasp - Garden Lady Blog

Factors that make a bug too repulsive to touch:

  • Excessive wiggling or other movement (like Japanese Beetles)
  • Danger of stinging or biting (wasps, for example)
  •  Large size (wood roaches)
  •  Unknown Species

6-spotted Green Tiger Beetle - Garden Lady Blog
There are some bugs that I admire very much, but would not touch. Praying mantis, dragonflies, and butterflies are in this group. Years ago I was told handling butterfly wings would damage them permanently. (My article on identifying butterflies found in the southeastern U.S. is here.)

Spicebush Butterfly - Garden Lady Blog

Praying Mantis - Garden Lady Blog
Monarch Butterfly - Garden Lady Blog
I am fascinated by the fact that I touch some bugs and cower in fear from others. What do you think? What is your experience handling bugs? I would love to hear about it. Sincere comments will be published. Anonymous and spam-like posts will be deleted. Have a great day!

If you enjoy photographs of bugs, check out my portfolio at: http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/PamSchodt.

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