Wild Bugs

[Hoj]

so its that time of year here in canada, and all the bugs are coming out.
i am curious tho, if i catch some bugs ( mostly moths and grasshoppers )
am i correct in thinking that if i keep them alive for about 24hrs that i can be safe in assuming they have not encountered any poisions??
and what do moths eat?
also am i carrect i thinking that the dull colored ones are non toxic??

my intent is to catch them, put them in deli cups and feed them well for 24hrs and then feed off.

opioions???

 

[okiroo]

i feed brown moths right from outside to my chams as treats now and than. so i guess there safe. dont really think of poisions becuz we dont use any, but your idea is safer and sounds good.

idk what moths eat, clothes? i'd put some cloth, fruit and something esle inthere that they might like.

 

[Ace]

i have fed brownish/ to greenish hoppers and a green katydid

i catch mantids from time to time and offer gutloaded crickets for a few days and feed them off.

to me the chams i had and now just zulu, the green bugs attract them the most


i beleive your method is a good indicator of your bugs being safe to feed off, if it bothers you keep them for a few days

 

[DekuScrub]

i feed brown moths right from outside to my chams as treats now and than. so i guess there safe. dont really think of poisions becuz we dont use any, but your idea is safer and sounds good.

idk what moths eat, clothes? i'd put some cloth, fruit and something esle inthere that they might like.

im pretty sure most of them dont eat. they do that as caterpillars. all their job is once theyre airbound is making babies.

but im not sure about all species see if it has mouth parts.

im no entomologist so dont trust me on anything

my major concern would be parasites, but if theyre herbivorous the chances of that are slimmer. id stay away from wild caught flies, spiders, and mantises. oh and fireflies dont use those.

if you live in a populated area your neighbors may be spreading pesticides. ever since my neighbor drenched his lawn in poison ive been very wary

 

[drcrossfire]

No! Very incorrect!

Even though the insect may be fine in 24 hours... Many species of bugs have developed resistances to various pesticides and fertilizers. Insects also eat outdoor plants, which mat be covered in pesticides where they accumulate in the bugs system.

So keeping this in mind.. your wc treat could kill.

I have seen it so i warn you if you do get wc bugs... Make sure it is in an area where they do not fog for mosquitoes, and where there is no yard or farm runoff.

 

[pssh]

Most adult stage Lepidoptera (which includes moths and butterflies) eat nectar from flowers, fermenting fruit, water from mud, etc. If they eat at all.

 

[Ace]

thanks for the tip,

all in all i think its just being well informed ifyour area is pesticide free or not, and if you do regular fecals for your chams, offering mantids or anything that "might" have parasites shouldnt be any issue

No! Very incorrect!

Even though the insect may be fine in 24 hours... Many species of bugs have developed resistances to various pesticides and fertilizers. Insects also eat outdoor plants, which mat be covered in pesticides where they accumulate in the bugs system.

So keeping this in mind.. your wc treat could kill.

I have seen it so i warn you if you do get wc bugs... Make sure it is in an area where they do not fog for mosquitoes, and where there is no yard or farm runoff.

 

[arnau666]

i was thinking and i still am about what you posted , this involves many risks:
parasites, pesticides- you can never be 100% sure if the bug wc will be safe or healthy.

i guess 24hours - is not enough in my personal opinion!

i will too go hunt the damn hoppers soon cose spring is here ! but i will keep them just to breed and after they lay eggs ill release them in the wild ! after that i will have a much more safer colony !

well thats how i wanna do it and i find my way kinda safe !

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hi

You'll very likley be fine with a few wild caught moths, not that they offer much in nutrition beyond fat, but they make for fun hunting for the cham.

Grasshoppers in canada, caught in a clean area (far away from human habitation), are also fine. There are grasshoppers in states that are not safe, but those dont reach this far north.

Another good choice are termites - again assuming you collect in a safe area (no where near where humans are)

Parasites are a possibilty of course, but for me the low risk is worth it. Been using wild bugs for well over a decade with many many chameleons. Only once ever had a minor pinworm problem - which was easily resolved.

 

[Hoj]

Hi

You'll very likley be fine with a few wild caught moths, not that they offer much in nutrition beyond fat, but they make for fun hunting for the cham.

Grasshoppers in canada, caught in a clean area (far away from human habitation), are also fine. There are grasshoppers in states that are not safe, but those dont reach this far north.

Another good choice are termites - again assuming you collect in a safe area (no where near where humans are)

Parasites are a possibilty of course, but for me the low risk is worth it. Been using wild bugs for well over a decade with many many chameleons. Only once ever had a minor pinworm problem - which was easily resolved.

thx sandra, i was waiting for your reply, good to know you have not seen many issues with our bugs lol. i am mostly looking for a bit of fun and variety for my chams, so i think the odd moth and fly would be nice for them.
im sure i will catch others and be curious as well
thx again

 

[Todnedo]

No! Very incorrect!

Even though the insect may be fine in 24 hours... Many species of bugs have developed resistances to various pesticides and fertilizers. Insects also eat outdoor plants, which mat be covered in pesticides where they accumulate in the bugs system.

So keeping this in mind.. your wc treat could kill.

I have seen it so i warn you if you do get wc bugs... Make sure it is in an area where they do not fog for mosquitoes, and where there is no yard or farm runoff.

Have you fed wild insects to your chams?
I have....... no less than 10,000 most likely more. Never had a problem.

 

[sandrachameleon]

... so i think the odd moth and fly would be nice for them.

careful about flies - possible bacteria issue.

 

[Solid Snake]

I feed lots of wild insects.

Locusts, bees, mantids, spiders, moths, flys...

A lot of them they eat on their own when they are outside.

I dont do a holding period. If I think an insect may not be safe, I dont feed it at all. I get mine from "the middle of nowhere" though, so I am not very worried about pesticides.

Parasites concern me a bit. I need to get my guys checked.

 

[DekuScrub]

I feed lots of wild insects.

Locusts, bees, mantids, spiders, moths, flys...

A lot of them they eat on their own when they are outside.

I dont do a holding period. If I think an insect may not be safe, I dont feed it at all. I get mine from "the middle of nowhere" though, so I am not very worried about pesticides.

Parasites concern me a bit. I need to get my guys checked.

butterfly bushes are a real nice spot to let you cham get his fill.

but like i said i dont trust using WC insects anymore. we were a fairly rural areas a few years ago. but since then 3 new developments have gone in and the ratio of people that coat their lawns in poison (for whatever reason) has skyrocketed.

not happy about cookie cutter townhouses and the influx of people like these. but oh well, what can ya do

i think what is majorly bothersome to me is the huge decrease in fireflys...