No. These are not cockroaches! I don't want to freak any of you out, but did you know that in Japan some kids keep bugs for pets! I suppose if the house is too small for a cat and there's no yard for a dog, then there is not much smaller you can get than a bug! I know traditionally crickets were kept (and are still sold in pet stores these days) because they make a ringing sound in the summer that is "cooling" to the ear. They are not set free in the house of course, instead kept in small plastic bug boxes (used to be small bamboo cages).
The most popular bugs for kids are two different types of beetles, a Kabuto mushi and a Kuwagata mushi. Do not ask me what they are called in English. I've even seen kids put little leashes on them and pin them to the shirt so that they can't fly away! The pet stores sell special beetle soil and beetle houses and beetle food. Anyway, they are very popular with young Japanese boys and the really industrious boys in our neighborhood will go into the forest with nets and try to find their own beetles. (Most parents buy them at the pet store for their kids though.) I think the pet stores in the big cities can sell them at quite exorbitant prices though around here they sell for a few dollars apiece. Kids who really get into it will keep beetles year round and watch the whole hibernation and hatching process. Hmm. Grubs in a box. No thank you.
Even though I say that, before Takumi entered kindergarten and we still lived in an apartment we did try our hand at keeping a pet beetle. As I recall, I got grossed out and we let it go in a nearby park after a few weeks.These are pictures taken at the kindergarten and the kids were proudly showing off their beetles to the camera. Can you hear me pleading "Do not get any closer to me! For heaven's sake! Don't step on them!"
Uh oh. I hope I haven't lost any blog readers because of this post.
10 comments:
glad they're not on me, but they are rather cool as pics!
eeeuw. I'm with Pix, fun in pics, but that's it. I can see how it would be hard to have pets in little apartments and I would think lots of kids are fascinated with bugs, so why not. But they wear them? that's a new one.
I can't actually type the noise my eldest made when she looked over my shoulder and spotted your shoulder Tanya :o) but on the other hand my youngest (who I swear will be an entemologist when she gets older) would love them - she will pick up and watch any time of bug with great fascination - personally I'm with you - nice to look at but no thank you!
I can't actually type the noise my eldest made when she looked over my shoulder and spotted your shoulder Tanya :o) but on the other hand my youngest (who I swear will be an entemologist when she gets older) would love them - she will pick up and watch any time of bug with great fascination - personally I'm with you - nice to look at but no thank you!
Oops sorry an attack of the shaky click hand there :o)
We have ant farms here so I guess crickets make sense there. My daughter kept a couple of hamsters. I wouldn't touch them but she had fun with them. I personally prefer to let the creatures stay in their own habitat and stay out of mine!
Yeech. The pictures sure are interesting, I don't think I've ever seen beetles that big or strange looking around here. But please, don't give my kids any ideas!
I can't imagine how they put a leash on these beetles. I'd love to see a picture of that!
Great post!! How long do they live? Do they pinch you ?
Your posts are always so full of things I didn't know! Just fancy that, I never heard of people keeping beetles here - looks like the sort of thing my son would love to do.
I am definitely NOT a beetle person, but you won't be losing me as a reader. Your posts are so interesting - even if this one has a bit of the 'yuk' factor :-)
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