An Insect Very Few People Like..But a Guest in my Home
I first met them in an exhibit at the Liberty Science Center in NJ when my two girls were little. Frankly, they gave me a case of the skeeves!!
Then I saw them again this last March when a volunteer who is a high school science teacher put one in my hand at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History insect exhibit. And I had a change of heart! (Tragically, the science teacher used to keep them as pets, but her husband made her give them away...;)
The insect on my hand was huge, but it was very calm, made no attempt to bite or even to run away (a natural enough reaction if you suddenly find yourself on a huge creature, imho! ;). Instead, the insect was calmly feeling me with its palps, trying to figure out perhaps what I was or maybe if I was edible! ;)
So much to Sally's surprise ("you must be kidding, right, seriously you are joking!?!"), I asked if I might get some and keep them as pets!!
I finally convinced the family to let me give it a go! Sally was the most questioning, but to her great credit, she lets me pursue my interests, even if the interest does nothing for her. And in this case, letting these creatures into the house was a big gesture on her part, which I fully appreciate!
The gross *shivers* insect is the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach! And they have been wonderful!
More later.....
Then I saw them again this last March when a volunteer who is a high school science teacher put one in my hand at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History insect exhibit. And I had a change of heart! (Tragically, the science teacher used to keep them as pets, but her husband made her give them away...;)
The insect on my hand was huge, but it was very calm, made no attempt to bite or even to run away (a natural enough reaction if you suddenly find yourself on a huge creature, imho! ;). Instead, the insect was calmly feeling me with its palps, trying to figure out perhaps what I was or maybe if I was edible! ;)
So much to Sally's surprise ("you must be kidding, right, seriously you are joking!?!"), I asked if I might get some and keep them as pets!!
I finally convinced the family to let me give it a go! Sally was the most questioning, but to her great credit, she lets me pursue my interests, even if the interest does nothing for her. And in this case, letting these creatures into the house was a big gesture on her part, which I fully appreciate!
The gross *shivers* insect is the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach! And they have been wonderful!
More later.....