The plight of bugs in a bag is nothing compared to the damage done by upsetting the natural balance of bugs in your local environment. Importation of Japanese lady beetles has turned into not only a nuisance for homeowners, but a disaster for native beetle populations. You have missed the point, but I am glad serendipity has brought attention to something that shouldn't be continued.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | June 27, 2008 12:15 PM

Signed and sent on!

Peace for all animals!

Posted by: Judith | June 27, 2008 02:41 PM

Amen, PETA.

Thrilled to see that you guys don't ever back down for the underdog, no pun intended.

Shoving any animal into a plastic bag, including insects, is unthinkable. It disregards the most basic needs of life: a natural substrate, oxygen and temperature control.

No animal on Earth should be treated this way.

Impressive, PETA. Impressive.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | June 27, 2008 03:21 PM

Why are they selling bugs in a bag? I love animals, but some insects, like a bag of praying mantises would give me the willies.

I can't help how my body reacts, I get shivers up my spine and am repulsed when I see one! I want to get away from it, just like a spider.

Posted by: Gina | June 28, 2008 12:17 AM

i sent an email, but it came back! why is this? apparently it was 'denied'. stupid, cruel, sickening home depot.

Posted by: millie | June 28, 2008 12:42 AM

Signed and passed along.

Go, PETA!

Go, ladybugs and praying mantises!

Posted by: Kristina | June 29, 2008 02:21 AM

Chris, while I'm with you on introduced species(check out the cane toad in Australia) natural pest managent is a win on all counts(apart from the pests point of view).
By using natural predators indiscriminate insecticide applications can be minimised. Good for non-target species, good for the environment, no worse for the pest.
I don't really know what packaging you would use, but I'm sure the customer will not be happy buying dead bugs. Customer satisfaction demands live bugs. Try paper bags.

Posted by: rojo | June 29, 2008 07:15 AM

Great and true comments guys, Christopher and Maya, thank you both.
Oh yeah Christopher, I enjoyed hearing about vegetarian meal from your own garden and your sweet walk with your wife eating strawberries for desert, What a nice story and a happy one...

Good work Judith, signed and sent...

Thanks PETA...Save the Lady Bugs!

Go Vegan, save up to 100 farm animals per year, and save your health and our earth...

Posted by: Holly | June 29, 2008 06:02 PM

Rojo, I am all for biologic controls when possible. I am leary of somewhere like Home depot or Lowe's (American hardware chains) being responsible enough to only sell predacious insects endemic to the local area.

For reference, here in the Ozarks, each Fall millions of Japanese lady beetles get confused on unseasonably warm days an invade houses and make a huge mess. They also, like many other introduced plants and animals displace our native beetles. Cheers.

Holly,
As it turns out, they were wild raspberries!! The strawberry bed is a work in progress, though. Like asparagus, strawberries are a bit of an investment. I anticipate gorging on strawberries next June.

Posted by: Christopher Cochran MD | June 30, 2008 12:43 AM

Thanks Peta for standing up for these marvelous little guys.

Posted by: lynda downie | June 30, 2008 02:52 AM

Christopher,
I realized my mistake just as I posted...
Either way, sounded wonderful, your story.

Go Vegan, save up to 100 farm animals per year, and your health and the earth...

Posted by: Holly | June 30, 2008 11:12 AM

Dr.Breen,
You remind me of a very large dangerous bug who needs to be squashed at once and put on a stick!
Good thing I am a vegan and not a insectivore, or you may have been on my dinner plate tonight!

Kidding....I would never squash a bug if I could help it, and surely would never eat one...but you do tempt me Dr.Breen on a stick!

Go Vegan Save up to 100 farm animals per year and save your health and our earth...

Posted by: Holly | June 30, 2008 12:43 PM

LOL Hey Holly, I guess we're pansies then. I'd like to see Dr. Insectivore join me on a three hour mountain bike ride in the 90 degree weather.

Or how about joining me on a research mountain hike like the one I did this winter, 10 hours in weather that was 2 degrees below zero?

Of course I'm only a vegetarian "pansy", so Holly I bet you could really kick butt out in the woods.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | June 30, 2008 01:12 PM

I do love the woods Maya!
As for kicking butt in the woods, only if I see one of those dangerous Dr.Breen bugs!
I hear they are something to reckon with in the deep woods,
but dont worry, I am a Vegan who is up for the adventure even if the temps are down 2 degrees below zero, and I have to spend ten hours + in the deep forest, I can endure, for I am a strong Vegan Woman! Meet you there Vegetarian Woman Maya together we can over come the dangerous Dr.Breen bugs! For we are strong!:)

Go Vegetarian/Vegan, save up to 100 farm animals per person per year, save your health and our earth!

Posted by: Holly | June 30, 2008 03:07 PM

Just kidding Dr.Breen...

Go vegan, dont let your body become a graveyard for animals...

Posted by: Holly | June 30, 2008 03:49 PM

Yeah, like millie's, my email came back 'undeliverable' from home depot.

Posted by: lynda downie | June 30, 2008 10:49 PM

Hey Dr. Breen,
I do think the thought of eating bugs when one is a vegan is something to scoff at.
But I must say it was fun being the vegan warrior for just the few seconds it took to type that post...sorry but it was fun, at your expense.
Sorry Dr Breen...

As for the quote being my official quote,
I stole it from one of our Early Christians fathers,
Clement of Alexandria,

Clement wrote, "It is far better to be happy than to have your bodies act as graveyards for animals.

I liked it so I decided to change it a bit and use it...

Hey have a great day,

Go Vegan...

Posted by: Holly | July 1, 2008 11:17 AM

I disagree slightly. I think if they sold them in a better way this wouldn't be such an issue. If people need these bugs to aid in garden protection, then I don't see the problem. If the ladybugs are sold properly and are not left to suffocate and die a slow death in a hot bag- then I don't see the problem.

I love ladybugs. Those and butterflies are the only bugs I can stand. So I understand your point, but do not totally agree with not selling them at all. People use them for their greenhouses.

Posted by: brandie | July 1, 2008 12:49 PM

I was going to ask you Dr. Breen if you were "THE Dr. Breen" from You Tube...
so who the heck are you?
It was fun posting with you.

Go Vegan save up to 100 farm animals per year, save your health and our earth....

Posted by: Holly | July 2, 2008 01:26 PM