The Bite:
Go-go get an insect catcher. Show 'em how (and why) to relocate six- and eight-leggers, instead of stomping on them or spraying them with toxic chems. Smarter kids + bug-free house...wowsers.
Wanna clue your kid into a healthy ecosystem?
03.24.2009
Submitted by alara on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 11:00pm.
For those who'd rather keep 'em at arms length:
The Benefits:
- Helping nature spring into action. Spiders, the original insecticide, help reduce pests like flies, mites, and mosquitoes, and in turn they play dinner for birds, wasps, and other animals.
- Kicking chems off the case. Pesticides in conventional bug sprays can damage kids' brains and nervous systems, which continue to develop through age 12.
- Sleuthing out entertainment. Go figure - it's fun for kids to look at creepy things up close.
Personally Speaking:
Jenifer's mom used to rescue bugs from peril all the time. She'd set them aside on the counter to recover...and the bug'd usually escape back into the house.
Wanna Try:
- DIY Bite - a piece of cardboard or paper, and glass jar does the trick: Put the cup over the critter, then slide the paper underneath to keep 'em in and release outside.
For those who'd rather keep 'em at arms length:
- Spider and Insect Catch and Release Tool - 26-inch pole with hand-triggered head that opens and gently closes around insect; comes with "practice" spider ($15).
- Animal Planet - article and short video about the spider's role in our ecosystem, and in science and medicine (spider-silk bandages?).
Timeout
Lil' Jenifer at age 4. We heart the '70s.
Bang For The Bite
If 10,000 Mama Biters help their kids relocate a spider instead of squishing it, we'll let nature dispose of 20 million insects without man-made chemicals.
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