after asking you about the stink bug(s?) in my room i’ve kind of fallen in love with them… i keep having to gently transport them away from my nightstand and the way they crawl around on my hand is so cute!! i’ve named the stink bug Gerald (though it’s probably multiple stink bugs tbh) and have gotten very attached lmao. i was thinking about getting a small little bug enclosure—what kind of stuff should i put in it? some sticks and leaves, maybe? they don’t eat over winter, right? do they need water?
bonus Gerald pictures for your enjoyment :]
This makes me so happy!! I'm glad you are over your fear and have made a new friend!! Please tell Gerald I love him. Yes, they definitely need water, but will easily drown, so any water dish would need to be filled with rocks so they can climb out. If it's not cold enough they will not enter diapause and so they will need food. I've never kept them so I have no idea what they will eat in captivity! In the wild they will go after apples, peaches, tomatoes, and a bunch of other fruits and vegetables. I imagine their food sources would be fairly easy to find with a quick google since they are pretty big agricultural pests. If you do set up a little enclosure, feel free to share! And don't be alarmed if Gerald doesn't make it...most of them don't live through the winter indoors anyway. Plus since they are invasive, so it's no big loss if you keep one as a little friend rather than letting it go :)
