I wanted to write a blog using the word beatific, just because I like the word. I’m writing about bugs because my house has them. Six legged, exoskeletoned creepity crawlity bugs. I’m not kidding. Are you creeped out yet? It gets better.
I’m not even particularly ashamed. To be honest, I’m actually kind of proud. I have bugs, but they are beatific bugs. They are sooooo happy. And why not? They have food and shelter, a climate controlled environment, and people who like them. Maybe even, dare I say, love them.
Yes, our bugs are beatific. We will never spray our bugs, smash our bugs, or in any way, purposefully cause them harm. They are, you see, wild things my tender-hearted scientifically-minded eldest woman-child has brought into our home.
She spent her own allowance for a critter box, and she promptly caught a cricket to put in it. He lost a leg somewhere, whether at her hand or not nobody knows, so he will probably be with us for years. He has grown to maturity with us. Now, he sings beatific ballads to his lady friend provided to make his life complete.
Thankfully, he’s a crooner, not a belter. No loud cree, cree, cree just a sweet prrrrreeeee prrrrreeeee prrrrreeeee He makes the caterpillars feel at home. Did I not mention them yet? Oopsie.
We currently have two unidentified caterpillars. They’re small and kind of boring. I think they’re probably a bit lonely. They are tent caterpillars, and only have each other. Well, at least they aren’t alone. In the past we have reared painted ladies, cabbage moths, and most proudly, I squee at the thought of him, a hummingbird moth.
Antonio was a magnificent specimen from the moment we brought his fat juicy body inside and began to ply him with the weeds of his choice. He pupated under some leaves. We fretted, because the turd was supposed to do it under soil. We worried he would die. He didn’t, instead he emerged a gorgeous coppery hovery vision of mothy delight. And we released him as fast as we could. Hummingbird moths definitely do not belong in captivity.
Neither do crickets for that matter, but a peg-leg cricket makes not only a nice story, but a nice snack for hungry predators. So he sings. Beatifically.
theincompetenthausfrau 
Ha! last year for B I did bodacious bugs–very cool ones. I like caterpillars and moths–those hummingbird moths are awesome! I do prefer my bugs outside, though.
Outside is good, too. Luckily, our bugs are properly housed, and not free-ranged indoors š
I don’t mind a few indoor creepy crawlies, but I have to draw the line at moths, spiders and flies. I’m phobic when it comes to moths, and we get some of those ginormous wolf spiders that I’m sure could eat my Great Dane if they wanted to. Yeah, those gotta go. LOL.
Love, love this! Oh, the memories I have of sharing the insect world with my children when they were young! When my oldest was turning 7, I gave him a book titled something like “Pet Bugs, How to Catch & Keep Them”. It was really written for teachers but he had no problem devouring it. We kept quite a variety of different insects & even a few jumping spiders (they are SO cool) over the years. I believe it has helped all of my children have an appreciation for the different kinds of beautiful creatures in this world, even the ones that other people find creepy. Those people have no idea what they’re missing out on!