Personal Blog

Bugs

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A leaf bug has decided to board with us for the winter. I noticed him at first before leaving for break, hanging out on our dish drying rack. Today, I found him again in the shower.

First, yes, I know that it is extremely likely that these are two entirely different leaf bugs. But what harm is there in pretending that it’s just the one?

Anyway, I presume his lingering on dishes and in the shower is for the available water source. Today, though, he appeared to have been caught in there while someone else was in the shower, and was quite waterlogged. I brushed him with a toilet paper square to soak up some of the excess water (enough so that he could pull his antennae apart, at least. They were stuck together) and he scuttled along the rim of the bath.

Part of me was concerned that I should move him out of the bathroom, for fear that one of my roommates may not be so keen on having a bug in the house for the winter. But, I decided that he probably knew what he was doing, and didn’t want to disrupt his access to a water source.

Winter is always tough for me, because my typical method for finding bugs in the house is to catch them and put them outside. But during the cold cold winter, I of course can’t do this! What am I supposed to do with these bugs? Usually I just let them be, but I don’t want my roommates to stomp them, so where can I hide them for the winter months?

Maybe I should start a bug terrarium in the basement.

3 thoughts on “Bugs”

  2. Aaaiiiiee leaf bugs! I loves them muchly. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has this dilemma with found bugs during the winter months.

    Back in Louisiana it wasn’t so bad because the winter wasn’t so harsh. New York wasn’t as bad either, and normally we only had spiders when we were in Long Island, except during the spring and summer when the crazed ants decided to have some strange obsession with the toilet.

    I’d probably try the terrarium thing, because I have a ton of critter keepers and some tiny aquariums made for small reptiles and amphibians which would be perfect for them. At the same time though, some bugs are so delicate and I’m in agreeing to just let them be and let them do their own thing.

    I never had roommates that weren’t nature minded. My mom would always find bugs and let me know so I could put them outside. After I moved to NY, not much changed as I convinced Mike to just leave any bugs he saw alone, unless there was like, a wasp or something as we had in our bathroom one time.

    The only other hazard aside from that would be the animals I keep, especially at times it mattered the cats. My Tavi possum couldn’t get to anything because I had her in a mesh terrarium made for chameleons. But the cats as cats do, like little wiggly creepy crawlies. So far the only thing I have noticed here in Minnesota is a variety of daddy long legs type spiders, which are actual spiders. Not sure which species, they look like some strange cross of daddy long legs and brown recluse with their mandibles.

    Anyway, sorry for rambles. If you are concerned for relocating leafy bug somewhere safe with a good water source, you could always get those “cricket quincher” pads from most local pet stores. They store water so you can keep crickets and not have them drown, which is very nice when you need live feeders for your lizards and other exotics. Either that, or you can wet a paper towel and wring it out and put it on a piece of cardboard or something and just hope leafy bug might be able to use that. As long as you remember to keep it damp, it’d serve as much safer a water source than the bathtub or toilet!

    By the by, I need your address again! Want to make sure I have the most current.

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