The Bug House first opened its doors in 2014. Insects and spiders play important roles in our ecosystem! From decomposition of dead plants, pollinating our fruit and vegetables and even acting as “pest control” – we have a lot to be thankful for what invertebrates do for us.
People may think handling and caring for all the insects and arachnids comes as an easy task, but there is a lot of work that goes into feeding, breeding and housing these different kinds of species behind-the-scenes. For instance, almost all invertebrates (with the exception of species native to desert climates) need to have their enclosures misted to replicate humidity levels in the wild. Also, all the invertebrates have specific dietary needs since some are carnivorous and others are herbivores.
One way for people to actively help the insect population is to learn how to sustainably garden and take a responsible approach to pest control.
“A lot of times when people start seeing pests, like roaches and fire ants, they tend to use a broad spectrum of pesticides,” Kevin Hodge said, the curator for carnivores & Children’s Zoo. “Not only will it wipe out the nuisance pests, but it’ll wipe out the beneficial insects as well. So it’s all about learning how to live with them.”
Also, every time you visit the Houston Zoo you help save animals in the wild. Don’t forget to stop by the Bug House!
