Elf Sternberg

I think THE most noticeable and worrisome thing about their behaviour, is not the torturing of insects per se. As you mentioned, this kind of behaviour is not always problematic, however, there are a couple of VERY significant differences....

... The boy is not just interested in examining/killing/deconstructing the insects. He was doing it so he was "making them do his will." and so "it could be my pet." These are aspects relating to control, power, and acting out. I may have been cruel to some insects in my childhood, and subconsciously there may have been a sense of power, but, I wasn't self aware of it to 'want' to be hurting insects to satisfy a 'need' of owning/kiling them.

... The fact that he "enjoyed my expression when he described how he'd broken a butterfly's wing so "it could be my pet" means he is also looking to see how his behaviour is viewed, and is taking pleasure in his behaviour causing discomfort to others. If an adult had come by and watched or questioned my behaviour, I, knowing it wasn't 'right' would have felt some measure of shame or regret for my actions.

I do agree strongly with Velvet that it is behaviour to be monitored, and that watching for escalation to larger beings (mice, birds, frogs) is important. I would however, perhaps investigate what options are available if you come to a place where you need to take action. As I'm sure you can appreciate, you want to tread carefully before making enemies of your next door neighbors, and possibly have to deal with retaliation.