Boys, Bugs, and their Temporary Homes

A couple years ago I spotted these two items at different garage sales for 10 cents and 25 cents. I snatched both of them up. They aren't in the best shape, but they brought back tons of memories. I remember as a kid growing up in Missouri and Nebraska, when other kids had mason jars and empty mayo jars, my brother and I had these super cool bug condos. Actually, we used to call them bug catchers. But, this item from the 70s is really called a BUG ZOO. I only recall them in green and red, so now I have both.

For us curious boys, these were such a cool way to observe our ever rotating pet bugs. What was really cool is you could open the top and drop them in. Then watch the bugs funnel on down the neck and into their new glass house, or plastic house in this case. Then, when you were ready to let them out, you just pop off the bottom and away they go. And, ya just knew they loved that plastic plant while they were in there. Of course, we always added some grass and sticks, just in case. Now, my kids have "bug catchers", but, they aren't nearly as cool looking as what we had as kids. And of course, in the summer, I never forgo an opportunity to help my kids catch grasshoppers and lightning bugs for their modern-day bug condos.