Is There Any Insect/Bug You Will Not Kill?

[lorimay]

The only thing besides those darn sugar ants that have been in the house are baby lizards and we won't kill them. If I'm alone I will get a cup and catch it that way (yuck) to touching. Everyone else will just catch it in hands.

 

[ols386]

I won’t kill most bugs unless I think they are poisonous. I will kill ants and mosquitoes and flies in the house.

We have also had a couple bats and a chipmunk get into our house.

 

[superme80]

Any bug in my house is free game. Anything outside I leave alone except ticks. Those punks must die!!!!!!!

 

[ronandannette]

Arizona wolf spiders. I always try to catch them if they're in the house and I release them outside. They are hard little buggers to capture because they move super fast!
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Why on earth would you let that hideous monster live? Unless it does something super-useful like eats squirrels, it would be exterminated at my place.

I don’t kill anything that makes its way into the house. I’ll catch and release whatever I can or, if it’s too fast catch (like a housefly), I’ll open the door and try to shoo it out. If I find something like a spider or stink bug in the middle of winter when it’s dead cold outside, I just put it in my houseplants and let it winter over until it’s warmer outside. I’ve even been known to vacuum around the occasional basement spider so as to not disturb them — I figure if they’re finding enough to eat that they can survive in the house, then I should probably let them stay and continue their public service.

ETA: Except for that fruitfly infestation I once had in my compost bin. Those guys met an unfortunate end with the vacuum cleaner attachment.

You are a truly gentle spirit, but still good to know you have your limits.

I think it goes without saying that butterflies and dragonflies don’t get killed..

Everything else is fair game. ESPECIALLY ladybugs.

What'd a ladybug ever do to you? I can't think of a reason to kill one - they're very easy to flick out of proximity. I also can't imagine anybody purposely going after butterflies, although I'd be lying if I said my DS and I didn't net the odd one when he was little. Dragonflies are actually kinda gross but I've never had one in my house. I don't generally bother to take the fight to anything that's content to stay outside where it belongs. Cross my threshold though and it's on.

 

[Planogirl]

I try to leave spiders alone. I like that they kill other bugs and most are harmless.

 

[kimblebee]

Why on earth would you let that hideous monster live? Unless it does something super-useful like eats squirrels, it would be exterminated at my place.

You are a truly gentle spirit, but still good to know you have your limits.

What'd a ladybug ever do to you? I can't think of a reason to kill one - they're very easy to flick out of proximity. I also can't imagine anybody purposely going after butterflies, although I'd be lying if I said my DS and I didn't net the odd one when he was little. Dragonflies are actually kinda gross but I've never had one in my house. I don't generally bother to take the fight to anything that's content to stay outside where it belongs. Cross my threshold though and it's on.

I hate any and all bugs that fly/hop because you don’t know where they’re going. There could be a ladybug crawling in your hair and you wouldn’t know unless you scratched your head..and felt the crunchy shell.

ICK ICK ICK

I’m so glad I work from home..we have grasshoppers around so I wouldn’t be leaving the house.

 

[amcnj]

I grew up believing it was against the law to kill a preying mantis. (Intentional misspelling).

Any insect inside my house is subject to being killed or caught and released outside depending on the situation and my mood.

Insects outside I generally let be.

I too “learned” when I was young that it was illegal to kill a praying mantis. We were all out playing some game in the street and saw one, and one member of the group imparted that wisdom to us. So I know how I first heard that, but not where they did. I wonder if that thought was widespread, or confined geographically.

In general I try to catch and release or usher out most insects that get into the house. The exception being mosquitoes, especially those in the act of feeding!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Mosquitoes always die, also spiders if I think they are dangerous, ants, and fruit flies.

Otherwise, I try to shoo them out, or catch and release.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I always let small spiders live because I think they do more good than harm.

 

[jetskigrl]

Ladybugs and Roly Polys (pill bugs) and most flying things are left alone as long they are outside or not making a home right by the house (ex. wasps). Ladybugs and Roly Polys inside would be relocated back outside (although they rarely come inside anyway). Moths or butterflies inside would be relocated outside if possible. Other insects coming inside my house do so at their own risk

 

[debknight]

Spiders are not "insects", and Daddy-Longlegs are not "spiders".