Most of you know of my fondness for our six-legged friends. It's time again for a "Mommy Bugga Bugga" thread, especially since the insects have returned to my neck of the woods. So: what do you want to know, and which insects do you fear/hate? I'm here to act as an advocate for the insects and perhaps help you see them in a new light.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
I'm death on the bugs that inhabit my kitchen and insist on crawling over the counter every so often. And I'm sorry, but there just isn't room for two species in that kitchen.
I'm also not very fond of the cicadas we had here last year, but they're not supposed to come back for seventeen years, so I suppose I can live with them.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:And I'm sorry, but there just isn't room for two species in that kitchen.
Hope you don't have pets.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
When I came to Arizona to go to college, I discovered they have these giant black flying insects (maybe about the size of the marble you use to shoot at other marbles). They look like oversized bumblebees. What are they, and are they dangerous?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Six legs are generally OK with me, but anything more drives me nuts.
Do you think an average insect is self-aware? When they stop and sit absolutely still like insects do, are they just daydreaming?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
King of Men: What kind of critters crawl through your kitchen? You have given no way for me to identify them.
Shigosei: Can you give any further description? For instance, 2 wings or 4? Furry? What are their behaviors? Do they sting? From what you described, they could be big old bees or perhaps flies. I live in the Midwest, so I need a little more information.
advice for robots: I'm starting to wonder about insect consciousness. There's a whole world of chemical communication we know very little about. But it does seem that on occasion insects make "decisions" and that you can find ways to communicate with them. I'm becoming a bug mystic, and one of my goals this summer is to find ways to further connect with insects.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Wasps, these tiny brown bugs in here and flies because they are a DANGER to my rabbit. *protects him from flies* But, I love praying mantises. They are so cute!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Syn, why do you have trouble with wasps and the "tiny brown insects"?
As for the flies dangerous to your rabbit, definitely make sure to keep your bunny's environment clean. You might want to send out the vibe to the flies that they are not welcome in your space, and that they should find other places to live and breed. Knowing you, you already do these things.
And I agree, mantises are adorable! However, they are basically eating machines. They are led by the instinct to capture and eat prey the way some obnoxious men are led by what lurks beneath their trousers.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Unfortunately, due to my phobia of stinging insects, I avoid anything that looks like it might be a bee or wasp. I haven't gotten a close look at one of these insects. They do look like they might be furry, and either the wings are clear like those of bees or they're going too fast to be seen. The flight pattern resembles that of bumblebees I've seen...large circles, smooth motion, buzzing.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, I don't like spider's 'cause I'm allergic (though I don't generally mind pet tarantulas). No bees or wasps, same reason. When I was pregnant, I got really freaked out by anything with more than four legs; it was some kind of primal urge, I think. But now it's better.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Well, Jenny, it's a bit hard to identify the damn things after I squish 'em. They've got six legs, a greyish rounded carapace, and antennae that are about one-sixth the length of their bodies. Also, they're not very bright : They just do not take the hint that they're unwanted, in spite of the many deaths I've inflicted on their tribe. Does that help?
And no, I have no pets. And before anybody chimes in with bacteria, let me specify macro-species.
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
I have always found preying mantises fascinating as well. As long as I do not actually bump into their webs, I'm likewise okay with spiders. I have tried allowing spiders to live in my bathroom in hopes that they will take care of the flies that sometimes manage to get into my apartment--I hate flies--but I suppose the food supply just isn't big enough. The spiders always die...
An online friend of mine has a phobia about crickets...
[ March 30, 2005, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: Mabus ]
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Wasps sting. They look cute and evil at the same time. They would make great creepy giant robots with their aggressive warning stripes. The tiny brown insects are just revolting. If I leave chocolate out, they'll eat it and there's a lot in the kitchen. It's my own fault for not cleaning nearly enough. Hopefully they are not harmful to the rabbit. Who keeps sneezing Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Shigosei, is this phobia warranted (for instance, are you allergic)? Most people are not deathly allergic to single insect stings. It is normal to swell up, hurt, and then itch for several days afterward in reaction to insect venom. Also, you may be sweaty with a fast pulse because you got scared. However, there are indeed some folks who must carry Epi-pens because of their severe allergic reactions.
Myself, I do not fear the sting. I have been stung before, and I admit it hurts. However, a quick application of a paste made from baking soda and water quickly draws out the sting.
Insects do not sting because they hate you. They sting for the very reasons you might hurt someone - to defend themselves or their young. Some species are more aggressive than others. Bees die when they sting, losing part of their bodies to defend their sisters. They also release a fear pheremone that basically says "This is an enemy!" That's why beekeepers use smoke to interrupt any pheremone communication and calm the bees. Wasps can sting repeatedly. If you learn their ways, though, stinging insects become fascinating creatures rather than things to be irrationally feared.
I approach wasps with healthy respect, the way I do dogs or any other potentially dangerous animals. But I do not fear them. I usually acknowledge them verbally. I do not move in threatening ways (quickly, aggressively). I don't wear chemicals that might attract them to me (floral smells) or make them angry. I allow them to alight on my body if they choose. I also don't hesitate to encourage them to crawl on something else. I never run - that's a danger thing. I also consciously work with my body to NOT secrete fear chemicals. Fear changes your body's chemistry. I'm not sure how much that has to do with the likelihood of being stung, but that's something I'm trying to figure out this year.
Most wasps are important to our ecosystem. They pollinate flowers, eat pest insects, and parasitize other pests. They have an important role to play, and deserve honor for it.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
We seem to be having more and more of them show up around the farm. I don't get rid of them because I THINK they only eat other insects, which is a good thing - and don't harm my plants.
However, I'm not sure if they are safe to touch -- it doesn't say specifically in my bug guide book at home.
Farmgirl
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
King of Men, you've probably got some sort of beetle. Where do you usually find them? Are they attracted to any particular foodstuffs? Kitchens need to be kept anally clean if you want to deter the wee beasties. Also, about how big are these beetles? If we can narrow down some of this stuff, perhaps I can help you think of strategies that will speak more clearly than smashing their guts all over your clean countertops...
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
Hmm...I thought you must mean pillbugs, but clearly not. I have never seen one of those. Any help out there?
Long long ago, I managed to step on a wasp or bee and was covered in welts for days. I have been very uncomfortable around them ever since.
Oh, and hi, Jenny! It has been a long time since WenchCon. Good to see you...um...figuratively speaking.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Okay, bug mystic, tell me how to convince the earwigs to stay out of my apartment.
My research has indicated that they aren't attracted to filth, so their presence does not indicate that I'm a bad housekeeper. I have also learned that they are solitary creatures, so they have no nest to destroy and fumigation would solve nothing. My landlord tells me that they feed on the dead leaves we have in abundance near the building, and that it's common for them to wander in sometimes, but that they go away after the autumn.
Well, it's spring now, and they haven't gone away. I don't see them on a weekly basis anymore, but even one a month is one too many for me. I realize they don't actually do anything--they're harmful only to plants, and I don't have plants. And I also realize that if we called them "sugarbugs" or "sunshiners" or "li'l petunias", nobody would hate them, and the word "earwig" sounds more fearsome than they actually are. That said, I still don't want them in my bloody home.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Wow, wheelbugs are cool looking! I don't know anything about them at all! Definitely an insect I'm going to have to read up on. Jenny, do you know anything about them? What is the purpose of that raised disc that protrudes from their back (and from which they take their common name, I'm guessing)? Is it an anchor point for muscles or something?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Shigosei, you might be seeing mason bees,or nonstripy bumblers. Mostly harmless. I have big fat black mason bees, same size as bumbles but not fuzzy, that bore holes in some of my wooden garden objects. They are solitary bees, but they are quite kind as long as you don't threaten their homes.
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Jenny, is there any way to keep wasps away without killing them? We've got several wasps nests under a few of our balconies, which means that we have wasps on our decks. Mr. Opera is going to knock them down this weekend, but how do we discourage them from building there again? I've also found 4 wasps in our house this week.
space opera
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I like creepy crawlies when I'm creepy crawling up on them, not when they creepy crawly up on me.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Verily, I've been bitten/pinched by an earwig before. I can tolerate them, though. I can tolerate just about everything except fleas.
Jenny, fleas love to eat me. I have many times diagnosed friends' pets with fleas once I started getting bitten, even though everyone else was unaware of them.
Am I Queen of the Fleas? Am I some foretold Manna Creature from flea mythology? What can I do to avoid being chewed alive?
(Confession: I have accrued bad karma when it comes to our flea friends. When I had to live in a house infested with them, my legs were chewed alive, and ... and eventually I started torturing them. Putting them in rum and setting it on fire, drowning by repeatedly poking them back underwater in the toilet, submersing them in oil so they suffocated. )
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Folks, if CT and I ever make it to the same Hatrack get together, do me a favor and remind me not to bite her legs, okay?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Syn, yup, your fault. They like chocolate? Can't say that I blame them! You might think about putting bay leaves and peppercorns in your cupboards to discourage them.
Wheelbugs: My stupid computer won't show me the pictures, so I have some research to do.
Hi Mabus. You probably stepped on someone's home. You'd be stinging mad, too, if someone blocked your doorway.
Verily, they will tire of your home soon. Be patient. You might try some catch and release. The easiest method is to use a cup and an index card. Trap the insect under the cup. Slide the index card beneath, and now you have a trapped insect. Take outside to a suitable environment, and release. Watch your friend for a while to learn what they are like. To keep them from coming IN, look for cracks under your doors or walls. Earwigs like damp, mouldering plant matter.
Also, the earwigs have obviously chosen to connect with you for some reason. Why not use them in a meditation. What can you learn from an earwig? How are you like or not like an earwig? Why do they disturb you? Try to find kindness toward them. You might find that learning to appreciate the earwigs will either a)help you to deal with them when you see them or b)get them to go away because you've learned what they have to teach. (This is the Bug Mystic portion)
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
they don't actually hurt anything, but they fly around you in early summer and buzz and make you swat at the air, and land in your hair, and on your clothes (and they aren't small!).
When we were kids we used to love to capture them and then put them down the back of some unsuspecting adult (usually woman) to listen to them scream and scramble.
Farmgirl
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
*scream*
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Kama, have you ever tried chocolate covered ants?
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
oh, ants are okay. Not scary. Flies are not scary. The small mosquitos are not scary, though troublesome. These things with red backs and black dots on them are not scary. Everything else is.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
I ate a chocolate covered cricket once. Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
And then there were the times when i was riding my bike downhill, with my mouth open...
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Ants are not scary except for carpenter ants. They're huge, and they look like something out of a horror movie or a nightmare.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
*squick*
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
I will never find anything positive about 3 inch cockroaches or 6 inch centipedes.
We HATES them, precious.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
quote: I have big fat black mason bees, same size as bumbles but not fuzzy, that bore holes in some of my wooden garden objects. They are solitary bees, but they are quite kind as long as you don't threaten their homes.
That must've been what my in-laws had last year on their deck. We were sitting there eating dinner when wood shavings started to fall in the potato salad. It's amazing how fast one of these can operate.
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Obviously maui babe is in Hawaii. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Jenny, I used to be in harmony with most creepy crawlies. However I now have an irrational fear of yellowjackets after I was swarmed by a hive last year. I didn't mean to disturb their nest but their nest happened to be next to my front door. (Fortunately I made it in the door with only a few stings)
I like eating outside, but I tend to drink a sweet drink at lunchtime, which I know attracts them. Anything I could do to make it less attractive?
Also how do we convince the spiders to stop biting us in bed? Every month or two Steve and I will both wake up with several bites each. We change the sheets once a week and have never actually *seen* a spiter in the bedroom. They appear to be spiderbites because you can normally clearly see a double fang mark, and they swell up like spider bites...
AJ
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
AJ, I would never be able to sleep if I were you!
I'm an arachnophobe.
I'm allergic to some type of stinging beastie. The problem is I never saw it. I suspect it's a wasp, I know it's not a bee, because there was no stinger left behind and I've been stung by bees before with no harm done.
Whatever it was, I placed my hand on it accidentally. Twice. No, not the same time.
One time I was closing my van door, and it must have been sitting in the door frame or something, because it stung me on the palm. I shook my hand and yelled and when I looked around the door I never saw anything - guess it flew off. That time I had a lot of swelling and pain, but the swelling didn't go beyond my hand.
The second time was outside on my deck - I put my hand down on the deck rail and got stung at the base of my thumb. That time the swelling started immediately and I could see the redness and swelling moving up my arm, quickly.
Called hubby in a panic and he advised Benadryl and call 911 if it didn't stop the reaction. Fortunately, it did stop.
It's very scary to know I'm allergic to something - but not know what it is. And it's scary that the reactions seem to have gotten progressively worse - if in fact, it was the same beastie that stung me both times.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
*dips Noemon in rum and waves a lighter, but threateningly, not like in the stoner-at-a-concert way
Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :
I have no qualms about squashing the bugs that penetrate my humble abode. I'm outnumbered, see? Just defending my turf. Though I have, on occasion, kept some insect pets, like ant lions, which are low maintenance and low-profile.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
I have the same problem with fleas that you do, CT--for whatever reason, they're just obsessed with biting me. And for some reason they're never interested in the other people in my house, it's just me getting eaten alive I wonder why it is, do they just really really like O-positive blood or something? Posted by Lucky4 (Member # 1420) on :
Jenny,
1. I love this thread.
2. I have a question that has been burning on my mind for a long time now.
Last year, ladybugs invaded our apartment. At first, I attributed the influx to the mystic nature of apartment 312. I assumed that perhaps they sensed our love for them and our cat's love for them and were thus attracted to come and live and nest and thrive with us. However, my illusions of our being special were shattered when I discovered that, in fact, they were infesting everyone's abodes, including homes as far flung as my parents', over two hours away.
And let me explain that I am not talking about 1 or 2 ladybugs. Nay, this is extensive colonies of ladybugs; at any given moment, there will be upwards of 25 in each room. And though we are very careful to never kill them, they eventually die on their own, leaving inordinate numbers of ladybug carcasses scattered around the house. We have to vacuum constantly.
Over the winter, they did not die. I assumed that perhaps, in a manner similar to the cicadas, they would disappear this year. But they are back in full force. What's going on here? Why did they show up so suddenly? When are they going to leave? I need fair warning so that I can say a proper goodbye.
Thanks, Baffled in Nashville
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Lucky, the ladybugs wintered in your home. The came inside, found cozy niches in the wall or something, and now that the weather is getting warmer they are coming back out.
They should be on their way soon. Just be patient. Don't squash them on the wall - their blood will stain paint.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Jenny, are you sure 'anally clean' is really the phrase you intended to use? In all honesty, it does not appeal to me when applied to my kitchen.
But to get back to the point, I've seen these bugs range in size from maybe a millimeter across, to about the size of my smallest fingernail - perhaps four or five millimeters. As for food, I don't know if any special kind attracts them.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Lucky4
I'm wondering if it is truly our native ladybugs.
I say this because I have been reading about an invasion by a foreign ladybug quite recently. (this article focuses on Britian, but we have the problem too. You really can't hardly tell them apart from our native ones, except there are SO MANY!
We have also see a huge upswing in my house of ladybugs clustering around windows, on the ceiling and walls, etc. during winter. I've lived there 44 years now, and have never seen anything like it. So I'm thinking it is the Harlequin.
[ March 30, 2005, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by Lucky4 (Member # 1420) on :
Belle,
I realized after I posted that I could have been more clear on the seasonal timing of this phenomenon. The ladybugs came last year during spring as bugs were re-emerging into the world from winter. It was almost as though there were so many ladybugs outdoors that they simply overflowed into homes. When winter came, you are completely right, they wintered with us. And now, as bugs are re-emerging again, our ladybug population seems to be resurging.
Posted by Lucky4 (Member # 1420) on :
Farmgirl,
YES! The ladybugs in that picture match our ladybugs exactly, including spot pattern and facial markings! (I just compared one of the dead ones to the picture)
Thanks for solving the mystery!
(I am actually pretty excited about having exotic, Harlequin ladybugs. That's even cooler than just having ladybugs!)
Edited to add: Though I'm now reading the part that says that they are not necessarily good for the environment because they may edge out native species. What can be done about this problem?
[ March 30, 2005, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Lucky4 ]
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
A few years ago, our residence got infested with some new kind of ladybug like that, though I don't know if it was the Harlequin or something else. They were orange more than red, and they bite. They swarmed everything. The doorways that led outside would have fist-sized bunches in the corners crawling and flitting everywhere. They got inside our rooms and died all over. It was awful. The huge numbers of them only really lasted the one year here though, so maybe yours will go away soon as well?
Generally, I don't mind bugs if they stay out of my clothes, bed, and food. I refuse to kill them. I trap them and take them outside if they're in the way (or into the bike shed in winter), with the one exception of centipedes or similar creatures. They terrify me. One enormous one fell into my *bed* last summer, and my poor roommate had to get up at 2:00am to take apart my room to find it. It's the only insect I ever simply couldn't convince myself to let live. And I still couldn't sleep all night. *shudder* Oh, and the 4-5" wolf spider I found in my bag of clothes once in England was pretty gruesome too. I like small bugs better.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
AJ, thank you for not sharing this before I slept in your house Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
You weren't in the bedroom so you were fine... it's just our bedroom, nowhere else!!! I think they may be coming from the furnace closet right across from our room, that's the only place I can think of...
AJ
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
*relieved*
hmmm... spiders.
I made a scene in front of people because of spiders. More than once. Tom asked if I broke up with my bf because of the spider episode and he was partially right.
I used the dirtier toilet at work for a few weeks because of the huge spider in the clean one.
I once left for work without even brushing my teeth, because I discovered a spider in the bathroom.
When I was living in the dorm in England, I had a friend next door take care of spiders for me. Once, I couldn't leave the room because the huge black thing crept under my door. I threw my shoe at it and surprisingly did not miss. Then I called her to take it away.
Spiders make me act silly. Spiders make me cry.
Posted by Gryphonesse (Member # 6651) on :
it's okay Kama - I'm like that with Wasps and Bees - basically any flying stinging thing. I turn into a blubbering three year old, howling, squeaking, pointing and trying to run away all at the same time. (I'm 33) I have actually dropped my britches in public becuase a flying stinging thing landed on my shorts. My best friend's daughter always laughs about when Aunt Sorcha did the "Happy Dance" in the driveway. My husband figures I'll probably die by breaking my neck while running away from a flying stinging thing.
I don't care for pest bugs - like fleabies, ticks, skeeters, roaches, FLYING roaches (y'all don't get those up north, and for those of you in Florida, Palmetto Bug is just a polite way to say big-ass flying cockroach) - and earwigs give me heebie jeebies.
Most other bugs are cool. I luv spiders - I NEVER kill them, just take them outside. I've held a tarantula. I like mosquito hawks for the obvious reasons. I used to play with doodlebugs when I was little, and I love ladybugs. June bugs don't bother me, I just don't like them sticking to my socks when I try to shoo them away. Moths and butterflies are awesome.
Posted by narrativium (Member # 3230) on :
Just on a side note, in my search for a macro lens (or reasonably cheap solution thereof), I ran across this site.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
narrativium, that is an awesome site! I can't wait to show it to my girls when I get home tonight.
[ March 30, 2005, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: maui babe ]
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:Verily, I've been bitten/pinched by an earwig before. I can tolerate them, though.
Well, that's kind of what I was saying. They're only harmful if they get into your garden or houseplants, and I have neither. Their pinch is not especially painful. They have no poison. They don't carry disease. They don't breed indoors, filling your home with zillions of little earwigs. They don't play loud music when you're trying to sleep.
And the whole crawling-into-your-ears-and-nesting-there thing that gave them their horrible, horrible name is completely untrue. They don't really do that.
So ultimately, they're harmless. But for anyone who's never seen one before, this is what they look like. You can imagine how walking into my kitchen and finding one of those on my counter would be objectionable to me.
As for catch-and-release, I know how to catch and release arthropods. I do it with spiders and beetles all the time. Creatures that don't offend me, I have mercy on. Houseflies get the rolled-up newspaper treatment, but for earwigs, it is catch and flush. (I don't recommend just crushing them, because they give off a vile odor when they're crushed.) That's how I know these are all different little bastards coming in every time. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I'm always amazed by the popularity of these creepy-crawly threads! I'll try to address your posts in order.
Space Opera: It's hard to tell wasps that their perfect nest sites are NOT acceptable places to build a home. I don't know how I arrived at my current "Wasp Truce", but I do have one. Certain areas on my property are "wasp preserves", and the wasps are allowed to build there. I keep my family from damaging the nests, and we all give the wasps their space. And I promised not to harm the nests if the wasps would not sting me or mine. And nests built in areas other than the preserve would be subject to my taking them down. So far, there has only been 1 stinging incident- and this was after my husband knocked down their nests. It wasn't major, and according to the terms of my agreement, warranted. I made this truce by speaking aloud my intentions to the wasps. But then again, I don't know if this method would work for you.
Chemical messages will be the strongest you can send. You might wish to spray Raid or some other poison in the areas where the wasps lived. You might want to do that before you knock down their nests, actually. Also, check your home for holes where the wasps come in. I occasionally get wasps in my house, but I just approach them calmly and capture them with the aforementioned cup-and-card method. I release the poor things outdoors. Lately, I've been trying a bolder, let them climb on my garments approach.
good luck. If you can tell me what sort of wasps you have, I might have further suggestions (paper wasps? mud daubers?)
[ March 31, 2005, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Jenny Gardener ]
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Queen of the Fleas: Your flea torture stories amused me very much. I also seem to attract fleas. (Is this really something one should admit to in public?) They are insects with whom I have not yet been able to establish a mutually respectful relationship.
During a horrible flea infestation of my house, I found that oiling up my legs with baby oil or any other greasy substance kept the bites down (until the oil was absorbed or came off). There's not much you can do except ride it out. And stay away from home. I did find that the cat flea treatment which sterilizes the fleas worked. No more fleas came back. I cannot say the same for flea collars or that treatment you put on the back of the animal's neck.
Some herbal remedies you might try: pennyroyal (but not undiluted on your skin), mints, lemongrass, citronella. I didn't find them terribly effective, but they smelled nice when blended with the oils I put on my legs.
Best yet - give your pets that flea sterilizer BEFORE any infestations arise, and keep them on it. I only have to feed my kitties laced tuna fish once a month, and have ever after had peace of mind.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Kama - you obviously have insect issues. What troubles you so much about them?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Roaches are survivors. They eat our detritus, thereby cleaning up our messes. They are actually very caring parents, and they need each other. They are uncomfortable without their family and friends around them. They are somewhat intelligent, learning what to avoid and coming where they are welcomed with left-out food and the like. I respect roaches. I never really liked them until I had a hissing cockroach as a pet. Now I'm very fond of them. Also, did you know that they are in the same order as praying mantises?
6-inch centipedes. Not properly insects, but I am truly fond of centipedes. Their favorite food is roach babies. They are elegant and thoroughly alien. They are sleek fast predators. I think they are beautiful, like tigers.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
My current home does not have fleas, nor do any of my living companions, furry or otherwise. This was during a time when I was living with my then-future-mother-in-law, an absolutely wonderful woman whom I still think of quite fondly.
She did have a decided bias against anything "chemical," including any sort of medications for her pets. To address the flea infestation of her animals, she relied on pieces of shaved cucumber peel rolled up around little chunks of Borax powder. These offerings were stashed around the inside walls of the house every 3 feet or so.
They, um, appeared to have no effect. And when her sweet old doggie eventually was put to sleep at the vet's, they had to flea bomb the entire vet's office the next day.
*sigh
At my first wedding, my legs looked like head cheese. Thank goodness for stockings!
Thank you for your assistance, Jenny G.
[ March 31, 2005, 12:39 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Banna, it helps if you have a lid on your drink outside. Sometimes I pour out a libation on the ground at a little distance from where I am eating. The yellow jackets can go there. If they come by me, I just swat at them lazily. Yellow Jackets are pretty docile around picnics. They're drunk on Coke from trash cans or the juice from rotten apples. I've actually made contact with them with no adverse effects. It's just when you're near the nest that you have a problem.
I'm not sure that what attacked you were yellow jackets. Yellow jackets tend to nest in the ground. Hornets, on the other hand, are known for their nasty tempers and huge papery nests. They will swarm quickly and pursue a perceive enemy. Their stings hurt badly, too. But yellow jackets do become very aggressive when you are near their nests, so I guess without knowing where you were and how you knew where their nest was, I can't really make a determination. Unless you actually looked the critters up and positively identified them.
As for spiders? I really don't know. Especially if you haven't seen them. Perhaps check under your bed and make sure there are no webs under there?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Belle, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. And to look where you put your hands in the summertime. You might also have contacted a velvet ant. They live in the South, and have stingers like wasps. Or perhaps a fire ant? At any rate, I think that most wasps and their relatives have a similar venom.
Most allergies happen when you cross a certain threshhold level, so perhaps that level was breached. Just do be careful, and if you think you have a true allergy, consult your doctor. People who have severe allergies to wasp or bee venom need to carry an Epi-Pen. However, and I may be mistaken, SO ASK YOUR DOCTOR, I don't think that your reaction was too uncommon. I'm not sure if it means a true allergy or not. Like I said, ask your doctor. You need to know whether you have a life-threatening condition or not.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Lucky, sometimes ladybugs overwinter in houses. Especially the recent Asian ladybugs (orangeish, rather stinky). We get them, too. Most ladybugs get through the winter in leaves and things outside, but these Asian ladybugs have a predilection for coming indoors. You can feed them if you wish by leaving apple slices out for them.
But, if they become a nuisance, feel free to shoo them outside or vacuum them up. That's about all you can do. But be aware that they will make a great stink if you disturb them. It's one of their defense mechanisms. And they CAN bite (it feels like a pinch).
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Yeah, the problem is that I drink Coke and I always have a lid on and they still like it.
The yellowjackets that swarmed me *were* yellow jackets. Their nest was a hole in the ground, between our house foundation and the rosebush next to my front door. Fortunately we don't actually use that door very often, but use the door on the other side instead. I was pruning the rosebush when they attacked. I understand that I disturbed them, however I did use spray to kill the nest because we have neighborhood children that often play in that space between the two houses, and I would have hated for them to get swarmed too. Not to mention any sort of salesperson coming to the door. (Though in that case attack yellowjackets could make things interesting <grin>)
I managed to make it in the screen door as they were boiling out of their nest. I only got stung twice though there were 5 yellowjackets in my clothing that we had to dispatch.
But yeah ever since then I've been much more fearful of the creatures, even if I know it is irrational.
Any ideas on the spiders??
AJ
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Sorry, King of Men, I just meant you have to be picky and particular. There are several wee beasties that like to share our kitchens with us. Some are weevils, that prefer seeds like dry beans, lentils, peanuts, and the like. They look like they have long snouts. Some are beetles that enjoy grains - flour, cereal, crackers, rice. I'd advise checking your dry goods for signs of infestation (holes chewed in things, fine powder from chewed-up grain, creepy crawly larvae). I keep my grains in Tupperware or tins that seal tightly. Sometimes I keep things in Ziploc bags. If you can, capture a sample critter and get it to your local agricultural college or cooperative. They can help you identify the bugger and let you know if it is harmful or not.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Harlequin ladybugs: Not much you CAN do, except create habitat and encourage the native types of ladybugs. And don't feel guilty about killing off the invaders. Obviously there's plenty of them to go around.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Gryphonesse! Please, please don't run! That sort of behaviour only encourages insects to chase and sting you. The best thing you can do is stay still, calm, and non-threatening. Move slowly away from the insect or nest area. Running and swatting is very threatening to a little insect. They are MORE LIKELY to sting you or go after you if you run.
I taught my own three-year-old to be still around stinging insects, and now she proceeded to teach all her friends. We haven't had any stinging incidents (she's now 6), although she and her playmates often play in our gardens where wasps frequently buzz about doing their business.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Verily,
Like I said, the Earwigs want to work with you. See what you can do with them on a spiritual level.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
What bothers me about bugs? That they can crawl into my orafices. That they have exoskeletons and lots of pointy parts. That they invade my house.
On the other hand, I do have a tendancy to respect all life. Often I will choose to take a bug outside rather than kill it, and often I won't go out of my way to do anything if they are minding their own beeswax. It is when they "get in my way" that I take issue.
What about ants invading one's house? Jenny, out of curiosity, do you find it unethical to use ant-spray to keep them from coming in? If you had ants in your house, would you leave them be? When I spray them (as I did just the other day) I think, well, I am killing a few drones, but the colony lives on. The spray's remaining pressence then discourages any more from making their way into my house. It is a big "do not enter" sign. It's kinda like the bugger perspective from the Ender series.
Ooo, ever since my young teens I've had an irrational revulsion towards "silverfish" and "craneflies". With the silverfish, I found it so alien that when you crush them they disintigrate into powder--as though they haven't a molecule of fluid in their bodies. That just creeped me out.
ith craneflies, I didn't like how big they are and what clumsy fliers they are. I felt like they were going to bump into me as they circled about aimlessly, and that really bothered me for some reason. Also, I liked to walk barefoot in the grass in Washington state when we lived there, and they would "hide" in the grass, not having the wits to fly away. I didn't like the idea of stepping on them. I had this same issue with the banana slugs that lay in wait. I'm sure it was much more unpleasant to be stepped *on*, but still. I did say it was an irrational feeling. And sprawled on the wall, they look like giant mosquitoes, even though mentally I know they don't suck blood at all.
[ March 31, 2005, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: beverly ]
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
*chants* six legs good, two legs bad! six legs good, two legs bad!
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
*throws spiders at JNSB*
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
*screams*
*tries to duck and cover but it doesn't work*
*stops, drops, and rolls*
Posted by Gryphonesse (Member # 6651) on :
Thanks for the info, Jenny. Not sure I'm capable of following it, but I'll try. You have the most unique take on bugs of anyone I've ever known!
And Bev, I had to look up Crane Flies - those are what we call Mosquito Hawks down here... Too funny.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Huh. Never heard the term. I guess it is a regional thing, like "crawdads" vs "crayfish" or "pop" vs "soda".
They do *eat* mosquitos, right?
That's weird. How often in nature does one creature exclusively eats another creature that looks like a smaller version of itself?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I was going to point to Mormons as another example, but then I remembered that you also eat jello.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
A pediatrician once told me that so called "spider bites" are almost never from spiders. They're usually mite or bedbug bites. (I know, ew! Like that's better?)
Link Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:Like I said, the Earwigs want to work with you. See what you can do with them on a spiritual level.
Perhaps now would be a good time to mention that I'm not a spiritual person, and I'm not inclined to believe it's literally possible to "connect" with an insect and make an agreement with it. I'm pretty sure the only thing they want from me is a warm shelter (this is Alaska after all, and it's been snowing this week) and rotting plant matter.
The latter they won't find in my apartment, but of course they don't know that. Believe me, if I could tell them there's no food here, like Alvin in Seventh Son, I would gladly do so. But I really don't believe there is a way I could make them understand.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Jenny, I'm not allergic to bees, so far as I know. I just have an irrational fear. I had it long before I was stung for the first time. I guess it's not totally irrational, as I've held drones without panicking. If you have any ideas on how to alleviate this fear, I'd love to hear them.
Also, I looked up pictures of mason bees and that does seem to be what's flying around here. Thanks!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm allergice to every single type of identifiable insect that has ever bitten me or landed on me, so I just assume I'm allergic to the rest and stay way way away.
I hate ants. I hate at least 6 types that regularly invade our home, including termites that eat on the wood doorjambs and window frames. The ants will make nests in hollow metal tubes that form the frame of furniture, they'll nest in cardboard, styrofoam, the walls, in the floors under the tiles, behind the tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, between the kitchen cabinets and the wall, in the UPS, in Fahim's secondary laptop, and just about anywhere I can think of.
They'll eat their way into packages of noodles (plastic ain't that durable) or other things. They'll take away my cat's food piece by piece. The red ones hurt when they bite.
Sometimes, I'm lucky, and I don't have to kill an ant nest for days or a week at a time. Some days, I end up killing upwards of a half dozen nests in a day.
I hate them. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE.
And while I know it's not an insect, I'm going to mention it anyway.
I scream like a little girl every single blasted time I see a gecko.
Still. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Kama, for one who has such pretty legs herself, it's hard to believe you have a problem with them... Actually, the legginess of insects and their relatives is a common revulsion amongst humans. Most critters we know and love have 2 or 4. More than that seems excessive. And they tickle when they crawl over you.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
beverly:
Every spring, I must deal with an ant invasion. In some years, chemical messages sent by cleaning off their trails with vinegar and mint essential oil (and cleaning up after myself religiously)has deterred them from making a long visit. In other years, I've had to resort to Terro ant traps, which basically wipes out the colony. If you see just ONE ant, that's a signal you need to begin cleaning with strong-smelling things (I use vinegar and mint EO because I have bad reactions to our synthetic chemical cleaners). This disrupts the scent trails. And I don't feel guilty about killing a few worker ants here and there. There are plenty of healthy ant colonies in my garden. So, I don't really have a problem with killing insects. My problem comes with people HATING insects and acting as if they are the worst threat in the world. We use too many pesticides unnecessarily, which get into our bodies and do nasty things to us. I'm a big promoter of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which basically looks at all the ways insects can be controlled and lets you know when the most effective times to use chemicals are. It also brings in physical and biological controls. So, it's Balanced.
Silverfish are pests in the home. They'll eat virtually anything - including paste and book bindings. They enjoy damp places, like the bathroom. They like the dark. I don't know a whole lot about silverfish, but I do think they're kind of cute outside of our houses.
Craneflies are utterly harmless. They eat nothing but nectar in their adult stage. Many people fear them because they do look like giant mosquitoes, but they are quite innocent. They are also easily damaged or killed. Those long legs and wings are so delicate! Craneflies live near water, and their larvae live underwater. The larvae look like big ol' worms in the muck. Cranefly larvae make great bait for fishing. I always feel sorry for craneflies because they are so misunderstood. And they're quite pretty, really. Their wings catch the light in iridescent patterns. They are also more ecologically delicate than mosquitoes. Having craneflies around is a sign of a healthy water ecosystem.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
There are spiders that look like ants, or bird droppings, or flowers. Whatever helps them survive. There are flower flies that look like bees or wasps. Many creatures exist that look like something else. It's amazing.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
rivka, what a greak link! Thanks for clearing spiders of a bad name.
Verily, I don't mean trying to connect with insects the way I do. You're probably not a Bug Mystic. But you CAN use these earwigs as a springboard for some psychological self-examination. Meditation, if you prefer that term. Take some time to learn about the insects, and think about its symbolism to you and others. Perhaps you will gain some new insights and a new appreciation for these little creatures invading your home.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Shigosei, find some beekeepers in your area. Beekeepers are invariably passionate about their hives. Also, you can get REALLY GOOD honey! As you talk to a beekeeper, watch the glow on their faces.
Think about the good these insects do. They are excellent pollinators; indeed, some species of flowering plants risk extinction without bees. They are mostly harmless. They love each other, in a way.
Learn as much as you can about the insects you fear. Learn to respect their roles in the environment. The next time you see a stinging creature, don't allow your fear to put up barriers. Watch her for a while. Admire her dangerous beauty. What is she doing? See that stinging is only a small part of this insect's life.
When you are ready, you can begin to learn the beauty and value of the sting. Let me know when you get to that point. For now, though, learn who and what these insects are. They are NOT out to get you.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:They are NOT out to get you.
Shigosei, I agree. They're not out to get you. They're out to get me. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
quidscribis:
RELAX. The insects are not out to get you. First of all, have you been tested for insect allergies? Perhaps you are allergic to their exoskeletons or something, if you are indeed allergic to every insect that has ever landed on you. How do you know you are allergic?
Also, many insects do not bite with venom. Many beetles, for instance, just pinch the skin. It's hard to avoid insects, so you may want to consult with your doctor about medications or treatments for your allergy, especially if you have extreme reactions.
It sounds as if you have a severe ant problem. It is definitely time to call the exterminators. Also, you'll want to look into ant-proofing your house. You might have some foundation problems that are allowing the wee beasties to get in. The termites are not ants, actually, but an exterminator will know how to get rid of them, too. I've used Terro antkiller with great success. You may want to look into that or something similar.
And the geckos? Honey, they are EATING YOUR ANTS!!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Jenny, I know about the geckos. That's why I don't complain about them as much anymore. But I still scream whenever I see them - they startle me! (But then, I'm easily startled . . .)
Everyone here has ant problems like this. Or, at least, everyone who's living in a house older than a year or two. They're everywhere. And I sincerely doubt there's anyone here who even knows how to antproof a house.
Termites eating foundation is not a problem because wood is not used as a building material as such, more of just as a finishing material. Around doors and windows is about it, other than cabinets or furniture. Brick and cement are used to build houses. Wood isn't used because it wouldn't last here.
I've been tested for some insects, don't remember what. But I just do everything I can to not get bitten. (What the heck am I doing in a tropical country?????) When they bite me, I swell up really really bad. Sometimes, to the point that I can't bend a finger or a wrist.
It's pretty ugly. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Yikes! Whatever ARE you doing in the tropics? You'd probably feel safer in Northern Canada, or Iceland or something. I mean, there still are insects there, but they're much rarer. So do you live in places where there are Really Big Bugs?
Posted by Gryphonesse (Member # 6651) on :
Geckos are awesome... we have tons and tons around the outside of our house. We usually have to rescue one or two a week that make their way inside. (Three cats inside makes it not gecko-friendly).
I got beaned by a June Bug last night. I wonder what they think when they're flying...
"HEEEEEY WOOO HOOOO OOH CRAP A PERSON"
Boompf
"WOOO HOOOOO HEEEEEY"
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:"HEEEEEY WOOO HOOOO OOH CRAP A PERSON"
Boompf
"WOOO HOOOOO HEEEEEY"
Delightful. You capture the careeening so well.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I'm sorry to offend any bug advocates in here and I don't know if that title extends to arachnids, however...
When the silly bastard repels down his web from my bathroom ceiling tile first thing in the morning, only to pause a half-inch from my face...the sucker is gonna get squished.
-Trevor
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
So is the crane-fly-eating-mosquitos-thing just a myth?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Trevor - if the spider has the poor judgement to drop in front of your face, I don't blame you for squishing it. Spiders know better, or at least they should.
beverly - apparently so. I never heard of a crane fly doing anything predaceous. Now Robber Flies, on the other hand, they are excellent predators. I have heard Dragonflies called "mosquito hawks".
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Be careful to find out what sort of ants they are before deciding to exterminate them. Quite often ants are voracious predators of termites and other insects which damage wood. Get rid of the ants, and you're just welcoming the termites/etc.
I wouldn't use an exterminator under any circumstance other than whole house tenting&fumigation. And even then only if I intended to take a two-week vacation well away from there.
[ April 02, 2005, 12:20 AM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I've personally never had a fumigation, but I've heard they're pretty nasty. You use them when the effects of fumigation are better than living with the insects. I suppose it's up to you to decide when fumigation is necessary.
On a happy note- yesterday, I saw my first dragonflies of this season! I'm sure they've already been out, but I hadn't seen them yet. Yay! I'm so happy! The bugs are back!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I have a lot of chemical sensitivities/allergies, as does Fahim, which is why I haven't pushed for fumigation. That, and that I doubt anyone here has the actual know-how to do one properly. So I settle for tracking down ant nests and dream of the day we move to a nicer/newer house that doesn't have ants living in the floors, ceilings, and walls. In theory. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Well, on the plus side, you could probably submit papers to entomological journals about all your ant discoveries...
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Quid's not the scientific sort, so she cant.
-Trevor
PS - I know nothing about Quid, but the comment set up a bad pun - she might be the greatest scientific mind of our time and if so, I apologize now.
I'll apologize for the pun later.
Edit: Psst! Ketchup! Quick, flea!
[ April 04, 2005, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: TMedina ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
One of the cats brought in fleas (they're not supposed to be out in the first place, but that's another story). My husband has about two bites. My flesh is covered in them. Fleas like me. My husband keeps saying "I don't think it's the fleas that are biting you, they prefer animals if there are any around". I tell him that he does not know fleas and me. Fleas have always liked me. I tried the oiling up, and that was a bust. I've told him he needs to find the Advantage and dose the cats, but he's taking his own sweet time about it.
In the meantime, I have discovered where the nasty little ants are coming into the apartment. An ant stake will be bought. I don't mind ants when they wander in the window now and then, but coming up through the wall is not playing fair. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
kq, I'm telling you Terro works wonders. Also, as for the fleas, I hope you get them all before they lay eggs....
Besides these two issues, I hope your other insect encounters are positive.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
CDC has a collaboration with Orkin. Here is a brochure Orkin put out about pests. Not all of them are insects or even arthropods, but they're all nasty!
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
You'll notice that they are called "pests"...
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I noticed on Saturday that we have what I think may be ladybug larva in our back yard (black bodies, six legs, a few orange looking slashes on them, and a very efficient search pattern). I'm thrilled to think that in a few weeks we could have lots of ladybugs around. I hope they'll find food nearby (the only aphids I've seen have been on weeds when we pulled them out) so they'll hang around.
I haven't seen any geckos yet, which makes me sad. I've joked (but am actually half serious) about capturing some from my parents house (about 15 miles away) and bringing them to my house.
I'm pretty good about living with bugs, but there are a couple that I have a hard time with. For me, it's earwigs - they just look plain creepy and I can't get past it - and cockroaches - they're too dang fast and it weirds me out that you could step on them and they'd just get up and run away. Luckilly for me, I've rarely seen either in my space.
I usually try to take spiders found indoors outside - hubby has an intense visceral hatred of them. The exceptions are black widows - they get set on fire along with their webs and eggsacs - regardless of where they are. I've actually been rather pleased at the scarcity of bugs at our new home (since we are in a new development and border on a huge area of empty land - an Indian reservation). We'll see how it goes as it continues to warm up. I just hope we won't have to deal with scorpions. I kind of figured we'd have seen some in the winter time (when they're looking for someplace warm to be) if they were around.
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
I get along well with most insects, and even spiders. There is one very pretty gray one that lives under my bed, and sometimes when I'm doing homework he comes up to visit. However, other arachnids frighten me.
I'm trying to come to terms with my disgust for ticks especially. They just seem so revolting. And I was thinking today about chiggers. I don't know exactly what a chigger is, but it sounds bad.
So, I guess my questions are, what are chiggers, are they harmful, and can anyone say anything good about ticks.
Posted by IrishAphrodite19 (Member # 1880) on :
Chiggers are little red bugs that burrow into your skin and sit there. And itch. And sit there. And itch. They only way I know to get rid of them is to suffocate them out by putting nail polish over the bite(?).
And that is my info about chiggers. Don't sit on things in the South. Like rock walls or logs. They will get in yout rear end and sit. And itch. Do you get my point yet? They also like to live in Spanish Moss.
~Irish
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Centipedes and millipedes are one of my phobias. I learned to tolerate, if not like, most bugs when I was a camp counsellor and had to act "cool" in front of the kids who were freaking out at the sight of a ladybug. But I cannot abide millipedes and will cower in the metaphorical corner. They are just gross and disgusting and *shudderSHUDDERSHUDDER*
I do kind of like stinkbugs, though. Or at least, I was told they're stinkbugs. They move slowly and they actually look cool compared to most bugs. This kind! I guess I'm pretty weird in that I'd rather hold a stinkbug than a caterpillar. Of course, I'd rather hold neither, and observe without touching (this was o.k. at camp because we stressed the "look but not touch" thing a lot anyway).
[ April 06, 2005, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Eaquae Legit ]
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Was it in the Mamma Bugga Bugga thread that I posted my centipede story? It would horrify you, EL, so you're lucky I'm too tired to either find the original post or repost the story here.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Hey, Jenny (and others who find insects fascinating), check out this article:
I hate ants!!!! HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE 'EM!!!!
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:the only other insects known to do this are social spiders
Well, that's kind of an egregious error for a supposedly scientific journal to make. That's kind of like discovering a species of rodent that's evolved a hard shell for protection and saying, "The only other mammal known to have this is the turtle."
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
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Hi Mabus. You probably stepped on someone's home. You'd be stinging mad, too, if someone blocked your doorway.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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I'm an arachnophobe.![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
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I wonder why it is, do they just really really like O-positive blood or something? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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The ladybugs in that picture match our ladybugs exactly, including spot pattern and facial markings! (I just compared one of the dead ones to the picture) ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
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This was during a time when I was living with my then-future-mother-in-law, an absolutely wonderful woman whom I still think of quite fondly. ![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
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Delightful. You capture the careeening so well.
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