For many kids, their first interaction with animals of any sort is with insects. Often toddlers will watch a few ants on the path or take a close interest in a ladybug that has landed on their jumper. Kids like insects. As long as they are not stung by a wasp or a bee at an early age then they are quite likely to maintain that interest if it is nurtured properly.
And that is why insects make such good pets for kids, and for adults too, for that matter. When I say pets, it should be realised, of course, that no insect is ever going to show any of the attributes of a dog or cat. No affection, no run-and-fetch not even a warm furry body to stroke. So we are really taking about small animals that children can watch and learn from and also learn about the responsibility of looking after them. Research suggests that people who have had to care for pets during childhood go on to become more responsible parents than kids who have never had that experience.
So what options do we have?
We need to think about running costs. Many of the large, spectacular insects are from tropical habitats and require heated terrariums if they are to survive. Obviously you will need to think about running costs, depending on where you live. You may also find that some carnivorous species will only eat live prey, and so feeding costs will be an issue.
In all these cases the outlay is comparatively small, compared to say, the costs of feeding a dog, but, of course, the experience of keeping a dog and a tank of insects is completely different.
The main insect groups pan out like this:
Ants (Order Hymenoptera)
- Ants make great pets.
- You can buy an ant farm for under $20
- Very little maintenance is required
- They eat virtually nothing yet are active all the time and perform remarkable feats of tunnelling and social interaction.
Stick insects (Order Phasmidae)
- Very interesting when newly hatched, they are active and fun to watch.
- As they grow they become much less active and look like, well, sticks.
- Children's interest is likely to wane as the insects become more and more static.
- Require fresh vegetation on a regular basis.
Crickets (Order Orthoptera)
- Crickets can make very good pets.
- The many different species vary considerably in their appearance and show quite a bit of sexual dimorphism (that is, the males and females look different)
- They can be quite active, particularly at warmer temperatures and some will sing, given the right encouragement.
- Require fresh vegetation on a regular basis.
Bees (Order Hymenoptera)
- Definitely not for kids.
- Bees are fascinating to keep, and can earn you a little honey money.
- They require a good deal of equipment, and care.
- Dangerous stings!
Cockroaches (Order Blattodea)
- Some parent might blench at the thought of cockroaches in the house but, provided they are properly caged then they are the same as any other insect.
- Very active, may show cannibalistic tendencies if food is short, and which some kids might find upsetting.
- Will eat pretty much anything.
- Hissing cockroaches are very impressive insects.
Millipedes (Order Myriapoda)
- Interesting to watch but can spend long periods in an inactive coil, which is pretty boring for kids.
- Prefer warmer temperatures.
- Eat detritus.
- Giant millipedes can be up to 12" long and as thick as your finger so you will need a large tank or terrarium.
As you can see, there are many ways to go when choosing an insect pet. Although I find all insects interesting, I think, for children, ants in an ant farm is likely to offer the best chance of success. The ant farms themselves are cheap, and there are many types to choose from. The ants are usually active and will capture the interest of a child and running costs are virtually nil. There is also a lot to learn from their social behavior.
| John Richards has kept ants for years. Discover the world of ants and ant farms and how to look after them for yourself at http://www.antfarmcentral.com |
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