Catching dangerous insects: Smart or not?

[Praireboyfarmer]

I know this isn't about reptiles, but I know a lot of people here either know the dangers of or are used to dealing with dangerous animals (Plus I don't want to sign up for anymore websites than I need to)

I catch and amaturely study insects. I've been doing this for quite a few years. I have a 100 +/- page journal (Complete with photographs) of all of them I've caught. Up to this point I've avoided really dangerous insects (Those that are poisonous or dangerously venomous) fearing it to be stupid to deal with and for a time keep them. But I've been considering it for a while now.

So to those who know the dangers of dealing with dangerous animals and the experience needed to safely deal with them do you think I should deal with dangerous species of insects/spiders? or leave them be?

If a post like this shouldn't be on a reptile forum let me know and I'll take it down if it bothers to many people.

[trailblazer295]

Not to be the obvious one but your answer is in your question, if it's dangerous then generally not smart to mess with them. Just saying accidents happen, for example look at the late Steve Irwin RIP.

[MDT]

hey PBF, i think from some of your previous posts, you're in Oklahoma, right? not sure if you are specifically to capturing dangerous insects that are found in OK, or just in general.

full disclaimer, I am def not a bug guy. I avoid them at all costs. "Nuke them from high orbit" doesn't even scratch the surface about my personal feelings on bugs.....

that being said, *if* you are asking specifically about Oklahoma insects, I can tell you from a medical perspective, we really have only 2 medically significant arthropods in OK: the brown recluse and the widow spider. the rest are essentially not that important. tarantulas, scorpions, wasps, etc...are a pain in the butt, but not considered medically important. certainly the others could cause a medical issue (if you, for instance, happen to be allergic to bee sting....you could die from anaphylaxis)...but it's def not common.

so........if you are talking about going to Australia and capturing a funnel web spider, then disregard this above. If you're talking about capturing a velvet ant in Oklahoma, be prepared for the sting of your life, but unless you tangle with the recluse or widow, you don't have a lot of "dangerous" insects/spiders to choose from.

[Minkness]

My opinion on the matter is that it's only stupid if you don't know what you're doing or dealing with. If you already have experience and knowledge, I say go for it. It's clearly a passion of yours and as an adult you should be allowed to partake in things you enjoy....but also, as an adult, be prepared to suffer the consequences should anything bad happen.

Good luck!

[pet_snake_78]

When I lived in MO, I brought home scorpions and black widows, I don't know if either are dangerous but I get get bitten by the scorpions a couple of times and it does hurt. Both are really easy to find in short grass glades under rocks. Tarantualas are in the same habitat. You should be fine just be careful handling them and keep them in a secure cage. The webbing you see in the short grass is mainly from the widows, when you're in good habitat for them their webs are everywhere, it's low to the ground and once you've seen it a few times you'll recognize it easily. The scorpions like it not soggy but not done dry either. In extremely dry weather you may have a hard time finding many. The tarantualas tend to be a little harder to come by. You may have to flip 50-100 rocks before you see one sometimes. The other two you should find under the first 10 rocks or so.

[Derek1]

Originally Posted by MDT

If you're talking about capturing a velvet ant in Oklahoma, be prepared for the sting of your

The Cow Killer is a BMF! We have them here. Never been stung, but I fear them like the plague.

I'm also a beekeeper.