A Pet Trend With Plenty Of Legs
Sometimes the bug is a feature, at least for the growing number of people who keep the little creepy crawlies as pets.
Just think of pet bugs like you would a college dorm room: They can seem kind of gross, but they don’t take up much space, they’re relatively cheap and easy to take care of, and they can be a lot of fun.
In my invertebrate era
Since bugs are often sold in online auctions, via DM, and on the black market, hard sales data is difficult to come by. But hobbyists and sellers say business is booming, especially when it comes to jumping spiders, the personality hire of the bug world:
- One seller told NPR she has gone “from selling three or four a week to thousands.”
- Several spider-centric social media accounts have thousands of followers (this one has 1.6 million).
Pod people: Isopods—which include roly-polies, pillbugs, and wood lice—have also become a popular pet. Rare, colorful, and spiky types can fetch hundreds of dollars, according to the New York Times. The demand for rare and unique bugs has even led to poaching in protected areas.
Bug picture: Beetles, mantises, roaches, and caterpillars have also wormed their way into pet stores, as consumers look for more exotic and Instagrammable options.—BC
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