Insect lovers and their beloved pets gathered on Friday in the Flawn Science Building for the Entomology Club general meeting. Most members of the club have pet insects, and before the meeting began, those who brought their creatures played with them and conversed with those who left their crawly companions at home.
The meeting began with a presentation that showed pictures of members’ pets, which included insects, reptiles and mammals. After the pet appreciation, club president Amelia Dolder went on to talk about the importance of respecting insects and their owners while handling them.
When the presentation was over, everyone went to the bathroom to wash their hands in preparation for insect handling. Members returned to the room, which now had three different stations, to begin learning about and playing with various creatures.
The first station belonged to a boba-eyed jumping spider named Penelope, and in the second station, Dolder showed off her mini ecosystem that housed isopods, snails and plants. She shared her knowledge with the group, warning that certain types of corks in a habitat may attract gnats.
After everyone had a good look at the isopods and their habitat, she pulled out her whip scorpion. Dolder also brought along mealworms, allowing meeting attendees to get a good look at the feeding process.
She explained that the best way to prepare mealworms for whip scorpions is to slightly squeeze their head so that they will not run as much. A collective “Aw” could be heard from the other insect stations across the room.
Next, the group shifted to a table with two dubia roaches. The roaches snacked on oats and rice, as their owner shared facts about their anatomy — telling the club-goers that although the males have fully developed wings, they are flightless.
Members of the group expressed that, despite enjoying the company of most insects, they feel squeamish around roaches. One member hypothesized that it could be from watching others cower in the presence of the insect, instilling fear from an early age.
Entomology Club allows students, who entered the room as strangers, to connect with people over their shared love of insects.
“As an English major, the Entomology Club is an awesome place to explore my interest and learn about insects and other creatures. And the people are really cool,” club member Michaela Cobb said.
Entomology Club has become more than just a group to discuss bugs — for many, it has become a safe space where they feel they can be themselves.
“Even beyond the bugs, the people who come here are usually people who appreciate similar things,” Dolder noted, going on to explain that most group members enjoy all aspects of nature, not just bugs, and that they share one common value: kindness.
Although entomology focuses on the insect branch of zoology, many members of the club share a fascination for other terrarium pets such as reptiles. Fortunately for them, the club president brought out a ball python in the latter half of the meeting.
As the snake casually rested on the president’s shoulders, a group discussion about plans for adopting an insect in a sort of “class pet style” commenced. They tossed around ideas for terrariums, weighing the pros and cons for things such as death beetles, isopods, jumping spiders and tarantulas. The group plans to start on the terrarium soon.
The group will meet again this Friday, Feb. 27, in Flawn Building room 3.02.07 at 4:30 p.m. to build bug hotels.
