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Devin Macias, 9, of Las Cruces, holds his millipede named Big Mamma on Friday at his home. Macias has many different insects ranging from local scorpions, to Madagascar hissing cock roaches. "I try to hold most of my insects often," said Macias. "If you hold them a lot they get nicer.
"I've been into bugs since I've ever lived," said Devin Macias, the nine year old entomologist in the making who keeps a hefty insect collection.

Packed into the cubbies of Devin's room are 24 living bugs, 18 insect books, and more than 100 photos and drawings of bugs on his "wall of chaos," as his father likes to call it.

"It started small, about three years ago,"Devin's mother, Michelle Macias said. "He began with preserved bugs, but he's been catching ladybugs since he was little."

Devin's appreciation for the creepy crawly critters goes beyond being interested in boy things. His parents maintain the educational element throughout all the collecting that goes on. Devin has insect books where he learns what to feed his bugs, about their role in the environment, and their abilities.

"I get the facts from the computer also," Devin said.

Besides the facts, the Macias family uses the internet to purchase the bugs they cannot catch on their own.

"We order the things he doesn't already have," said Devin's father,Gary Macias. As a real estate appraiser, Gary is working at different areas, which mean new and different insects for Devin. "I bring him bugs from my job sometimes," Macias said.

'Pretty,' a praying mantis that died last winter, has been Devin's favorite insect thus far.

"I named her Pretty because she made lots of eggs," Devin said. "She had 12 egg cases, and each can have 100 eggs."

Praying mantises differ from other insects because their life cycle stages do not include a larva phase.


"I just really find them interesting," Devin said. "I like them because they can dominate things that are bigger than them, like hummingbirds."

As Devin pulled out his "super fast" Indian Flower mantis, he explained why it rocked back and forth.

"It sways its head to measure speed," Devin said, "so they know the perfect time to attack."

With about 15 mantises, 5 Madagascar hissing cockroaches, 2 lizards, 2 scorpions, 2 millipedes, a hedgehog, and a puppy, Devin sees no reason to stop expanding his very own insect zoo.

"I really like the dangerous ones," Devin said about the various kinds of insects he plans to collect.

"He wants an emperor scorpion and a Goliath beetle," Macias said. "We want to build a clubhouse to keep the bugs he can't keep inside."

The upkeep on the bugs is taken care of weekly, and just like any other pet, are fed daily.

"What makes our job pretty easy is that relatives know what to get him for birthdays and holidays," Macias said. "Now my father-in-law and other people are on the lookout for bugs for Devin."

Last year, Devin visited the Insect Expo at New Mexico State Univeristy where he held and learned about various types of insects.

His interest in the creepy crawlers plays an important role in his future, but his parents make sure their son has a well rounded education as well.

"He's always had a fascination with bugs," Macias said, "but he still makes time to play his sports."

Devin, who has played football, soccer, competed in track events and karate, still says bugs will remain a big part of his life. "I want to be an entomologist," Devin said, "or an artist."

The Macias family is currently looking to preserving the bugs Devin catches or that die.

"I think what our next step is, is preserving them," said Macias, "he catches some cool beetles."

Devin wants to remind people that bugs aren't always creepy and gross.

"We want people to know bugs are cool," Macias said.

"Don't hurt the good bugs," Devin said, "hurt the bad bugs-like flies."

Jocelyn Apodaca may be reached at 575-541-5444.