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| Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on Tomato- Garden Lady Blog |
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.)
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| Spicebush Butterfly - Garden Lady Blog |
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| Praying Mantis - Garden Lady Blog |
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| 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!
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