Killing Bugs (Blog)

[PresNevins]

When I was a kid reading Huxley's Brave New World, I remember one line that changed the way I thought about bugs. Linda was forced to leave the (rather sterile) civilization she grew up in, and was living in a primitive village with her son John who's never known civilization. The line that affected me was "He remembered the first time she found those little animals in his hair, how she screamed and screamed."

To her they were an infestation of awful bugs; to him they were just little animals. That really pointed out to me that the way we view things has a lot more to do with how we're trained to look at them, and what we're already used to, than with the way they necessarily are. "Little animals" feels so cute!

[24evita]

As many others have already stated that was one of the most cutest and touching posts ever! Thanks Steve - it was so enjoyable.

In my opinion all life is sacred and it is the least we can do as we share this Earth with all the other creatures!

Way to go Steve for setting a great example

[backpocket]

I tried doing what Steve said, mentally connecting with insects, but instead of crickets, I've done it with mosquitoes. I thought this would be a fun experiment to try out. My agreement with them was, "Ok, I won't kill you, as long as you don't bite me. Plus, you can have free roam of my room and hide wherever you want."

I haven't used any mosquitoe repellant for 2-3 days now and I haven't been bitten during that time, at least as far as I'm aware. And like what I've told them, I do find them hiding around my room a lot, in corners, under the bags, etc. When I lifted my pair of jeans that I hung on the wall I found 4-5 flying out.

I'm not really sure what to make of this. One part is saying, Ok, this is weird. What are they gonna eat? Another part says, Well, it's normal, really.

[vikramsjn]

Dear Steve,

Many thanks for yet another beautiful article.

I have been reading your blog for an year now, and have many times felt replying to articles/post, but never did, thinking that probably you will never get time to read.

Anyway.

I just wanted to share with you that here in India, we are taught that God is everywhere and also in insects and all forms of beings, even inanimate objects. Actually 'taught' is incorrect/weak word - Sanskaar (loosely translates to culture) is the right word.

I remember whenever I used to bang the door even accidentally my Mom used to, and still reminds me to be gentle, and to use things properly. I remember how at a very early age we were taught to never kill even ants even if they are on you or bite you. We were told that its there Swabhaav (nature). We were told, and are still told, and we teach the same to out kids that never unnecessarily hit even the ground. We consider it Dharti Maata (Mother Earth). We used to and still do touch the books and stationery, if accidentally it falls to ground - we say that its Vidya Devi/Maata (Mother Knowledge)

Just recently a pandit ji was explaining me that the Vedic Dharma says that there are two types of Devtaas (basically means one who gives and gives goodness without discrimating at all) Living and Non-Living. And that the Pooja (loosely translates to worship) of Non-Living Devtaa is also done - by maintaining and using them properly/appropriately. He also told that Puraana have even mantras to recite for example even when a leaf is plucked from plant - it is to remind the person, as a promise to the plant, that the the plucked leaf will be utilized properly and not waste or abused.

I realized that words like Sanskaar, Swabhaav, Dharti Maata, Pooja will look obscure, but actually the equivalent English words are weak to express what I mean.

So it came very naturally to us that we make sure that we do not hurt any insect even while walking. And obviously we do not use sprays to kill insects - we just work hard to keep our home clean.

Your post has again made me realize the greatness of Vedic Dharma and Hindu traditions, and Sanskaar.
Heartiest thanks again for the beautiful post.

Best wishes,
Vikram Sujanani

[Amandaaa]

I liked this article, because it made me feel a lot less crazy for going to extreme lengths to NOT kill bugs.


(It started with baby frogs. You can't kill a baby frog, because they're cute and harmless.. and bigger than insects. So I started rescuing them every time I found one in the house. And then it moved on to baby lizards... and rollie-pollies.. and lovebugs.. and flies.. and butterflies.. and moths.. and caterpillars.. and ants... and pretty much everything else that flies or crawls. Some insects that fly are a lot less cooperative -- but I still manage to get them out alive. )



...But I also agree with Erin: I would kill a brown recluse if it came too close, or a bee if it was pestering me.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Amandaaa

I would kill a brown recluse if it came too close, or a bee if it was pestering me.

Aha! I have found a sidekick!! What color spandex costume would you prefer, Amandaaa?

[Adelina]

How about a Venus Flytrap?

If this is ethical if killing bugs sustains the life of a plant?

[Patricia]

I've always been very sensitive to life in general, including insects/all animals. Ever since I was a kid. I've made a conscious choice not to kill bugs whenever possible a long time ago.

That said, my current criteria for killing or not killing a bug is: if it's inside my house and and I can't take it out (which I often try) and it can potentially harm me (kill me, or pass disease), or the ones I love (including my dog), I will kill it. Bugs that bite remain alive in my house as long as they mind their own business. I often have one of these in my house and don't kill them:

Macro - Marimbondo on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(and I've been bitten by one once, although not inside my house).

As compassionate as I want to be, I'm not gonna put myself or the ones I love at risk. Ticks, for instance. My dog got ticks once and it was a nightmare. They give disease and crawl from the dog up to the ceiling and furniture and all sorts of places in your house, to then go back to the dog and complete their cycle. This poses a health threat to both the dog and humans living in the house. So, these, don't get to stay in my house no matter how compassionate I want to be to all life forms. Spiders are usually safe, though, unless they are poisonous.

[Athena]

The award winning Spider Catcher