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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...
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.
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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.
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Just on a side note, in my search for a macro lens (or reasonably cheap solution thereof), I ran across this site.
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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. Posts: 1814 | Registered: Jul 2004
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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?)
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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.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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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.
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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!
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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?
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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.
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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).
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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I was going to point to Mormons as another example, but then I remembered that you also eat jello.
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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?)
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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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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!!
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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.
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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?
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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...
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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.
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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".
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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.
posted
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!
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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. Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Well, on the plus side, you could probably submit papers to entomological journals about all your ant discoveries...
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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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And sprawled on the wall, they look like giant mosquitoes, even though mentally I know they don't suck blood at all.![[Mad]](mad.gif)
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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.
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Delightful. You capture the careeening so well.
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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. 
