Bugs: To Kill or Not to Kill?

[Wischland]

For context: A few days ago, somewhere around 1 AM, I am chilling in my room, browsing the internet, watching Netflix, and generally whittling away the hours of the night. Suddenly, I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I go to investigate, to find a giant millipede with a gajillion long legs crawling about. And let me tell you this sucker is fast. So, naturally, I book it to the other side of the room, and watch as this millipede scuttles under some shelves. I have not seen it since, but I know it's still in my room. I have decided that, since we're not really bugging (heh, get it?) one another, to just leave it alone, which brings me to my question:

Should we kill bugs inside our homes?

[The Empire of Great Temporia]

That depends: are they a native or an invasive species? Do you believe that biodiversity should be preserved, or do you believe that natural selection (as a consequence of anthropogenic activities) should be allowed to happen? An environmentalist would likely argue for the former, whereas a social Darwinist would likely argue for the latter: there is no black-and-white answer. Personally, I'm of the former opinion; so, I would argue that the extermination of household arthropods – if they are an invasive species – is acceptable.

For example, if your household was in Portugal: I would argue that extermination of the Portuguese millipede would be detrimental. However, if your household was in Australia: I would argue that extermination of the Portuguese millipede would be beneficial (distribution of the parasitic nematode Rhabditis necromena has in fact been purposefully encouraged in Australia to control the Portuguese millipede population). This is an invasive species in Australia because its predators – which would ordinarily control the Portuguese millipede population – are located in Portugal, not Australia.

Of course, this is from an environmental scientist's perspective: an animal rights organisation such as PETA would likely argue that killing animals for whatever reason – even if it would beneficial to the natural ecosystem – is wrong.

[grataterran01]

Hmmm, that's an interesting thought. I'm usually of the "just kill it" mindset because i can't stand the idea of something crawling into bed with me while I sleep unwelcome. However, if I can catch the bug, I lately have been intentionally making the habit of returning it outside. I personally believe strongly in universal karma, and killing something even as small as a bug reflects negatively on me and my karma. If I can't catch it then my mundane instincts just win over and I kill it though, haha.

[Drewish]

This came just when the "Murder Hornets" were introduced in the US.

[Grea Kriopia]

I used to kill bugs until I had a weird realization about there are fewer bugs in general than when I was growing up and me killing them wasn't helping. Now I usually slip them onto my hand or a piece of paper and escort them outside.

[Secular Territories]

I definitely think biodiversity should be preserved, and any bugs that aren't hurtful to me (NOT mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, etc.) and won't hurt the native small things should be kept alive.

[Wischland]

May 4, 2020 18:39:49 GMT -5 Drewish said:

This came just when the "Murder Hornets" were introduced in the US.

An unintentional coincidence, I assure you. It's certainly well-timed though.

Also, I found out what my buggy friend is: a house centipede. Apparently they're really common.




But anyway, I've always considered the fact that the bugs don't realize they're invading our home. They're just living here too. So, we should just leave them be if they're not hurting anyone or anything. Especially spiders. Spiders are very underappreciated.

[Wille-Harlia]

I'm a semi-pacifist, so I just get them on a sheet of paper or something and let them outside.

[Louisistan]

Sometimes I throw them out. Sometimes I squash em. Natural selection.

[Snakeden]

My opinion is that:

If it is doing no harm by being in the house, like a house spider, I will let it do as it pleases as long as it doesn't try to do something like crawl on me.
If it is a bug that has belongs outside, but has gotten inside, it is my duty to stop what I'm doing to get it into a cup and let it out outside.
If it is a pest insect like a roach, mosquito, or silverfish, it must die.

The bugs don't understand human rules about houses. It's not fair to them to squash them just because they went "hey cool new space to wander". I have the brains to recognize this and therefore the responsibility to do what I can to help them out. If, however, their presence poses a health danger to me or my things, I am allowed to give 'em a squish. (Bees and wasps fall under "belongs outside", for the record, even though I don't react well to them. They won't be happy in here. There aren't any flowers. They don't set up camp and give me disease; they just bumble about trying to figure out where their hive/nest has gone and how to get back to it.)

[Ammotangandia]

I usually try to get them outside, but sometimes I end up killing them if they are refusing to move, or my fear of bugs kicks in and I the only thing I can think about is KILL IT! KILL IT! KILL IT!

[Wille-Harlia]

If it's harmless it gets to live, if it is harmful, well, *reluctantly finds something to kill bug with*

[Dokansia]

Maybe my country of origin has some bias, but I kill the little buggers first chance I get, If they don't bite you they will bite into your food. And once a single ant crawls in... 10000 more will be present the next day. Leave them alone outside your house though, thats their territory.

[chaycemdown]

Inside the home is fair game imo. If they arent scary and are beneficial I will sometimes try to release them outside but icccckkk

[Jabberwocky]

After 20 years in the pet control industry, my philosophy is: if they invade my domain, their life is forfeit; in their domain I largely leave them alone.

[Kohnhead]

This is an extremely tough question and requires some extensive thought.

While I am normally not afraid of bugs, sometimes they do scare me as their jump scares are well timed and executed to perfection. If they scare me I will kill them and any nearby.

It also depends on my mood, if life is good I will use the bug catcher and put them outside.

Another consideration is have I seen many invading my home recently. If the answer is yes then they are killed as they are the ones who did the invasion.

Overall context is key, but normally I will not kill them.

[Adrinian]

I generally let any bug not crawling on me live. And people tell me i'm weird for this but I love spiders, partly because they keep the population of grosser bugs under control. But really anything but mosquitoes or flies I let live.