Topic: Spiders and other creeping things

[tarascon]

Having packed up 99% percent of my room I'm impressed by the webbing I discovered behind everything.

Here's the topic: where do you stand on the world of creepy-crawly arachnids and also insects in general? Friend or Foe?

I consider spiders my helpers as they cull the insects (and mosquitoes in particular) which invade my space in summer.

Picnic in a cave anyone?

[smokester]

I like having spiders around the house just as long as they stay out of sight.  It's not them showing themselves that disturbs me, it's the missus screaming that can be harmful to one's health.

I kill on mozzies and wasps, but I most definitely plead "self defence" in those instances. However, a new rule has evolved which is you can live happily in my personal space as long as I'm sure of your species.  Lately I've seen some of the Lord's creations that simply don't belong on this planet. I'm not sure if they are new species or are just lost, but I couple of them have had to go as they just look too threatening.

[tarascon]

Lately I've seen some of the Lord's creations that simply don't belong on this planet. I'm not sure if they are new species or are just lost, but I couple of them have had to go as they just look too threatening.

I assume you're referring to the New Russians?

[xtopave]

where do you stand on the world of creepy-crawly arachnids and also insects in general? Friend or Foe?

I like having spiders around the house just as long as they stay out of sight.  It's not them showing themselves that disturbs me, it's the missus screaming that can be harmful to one's health.

I don't have a problem with spiders and I didn't use to kill them (until some years ago, I'll explain later why). If they were small I let them stay and If they were big I took them out of the house. Now cockroaches... those are disgusting creatures!

Some years ago, and accidentaly brought to these parts in trucks transporting wood from subtropical forests, these guys started to be a problem:

Tityus trivittatus

Here, in colder weather, they came into the houses were it's warm and cozy.    They have a potent neurotoxin that can cause something between severe pain, severe illness and even death, specially in children and elderly people. They're night hunters and eat live prey: roaches and spiders. And that's why I fight bugs in my house.

[smokester]

I assume you're referring to the New Russians?

I prefer to still call them Ukrainians.

I don't have a problem with spiders and I didn't use to kill them (until some years ago, I'll explain later why). If they were small I let them stay and If they were big I took them out of the house. Now cockroaches... those are disgusting creatures!

Some years ago, and accidentaly brought to these parts in trucks transporting wood from subtropical forests, these guys started to be a problem:

Tityus trivittatus

Here, in colder weather, they came into the houses were it's warm and cozy.    They have a potent neurotoxin that can cause something between severe pain, severe illness and even death, specially in children and elderly people. They're night hunters and eat live prey: roaches and spiders. And that's why I fight bugs in my house.

Now I just feel like a wuss.

[xtopave]

Last year, a friend of my daughter's and the mom of another have been stang by scorpions (luckily it was just acute pain in the area that subsided gradually). Both in the bathroom at night. Apparently they hide under bathroom gratings. I have installed those that you can shut and open. And I always pick up clothes and put away shoes bf I go to bed.
Now that I think about it I haven't seen a roach in about 4 months!

[mishca09]

 I am not strong willed enough to catch and release. I used to kill centipedes but now I don't bother because they eat other insects. I won't kill spiders especially daddy long legs, I will disturb their webs if they are in a inconvenient place.  I will kill roaches and flying waterbugs quickly and without mercy and flys.

[tarascon]

Now cockroaches... those are disgusting creatures!

... and very efficient survivors.

Last year, a friend of my daughter's and the mom of another have been stang by scorpions (luckily it was just acute pain in the area that subsided gradually).

Back in 1972-73 I spent two summers in the Oregon desert on an archaeological dig. We lived in A-frames... One afternoon I was changing my shirt and felt something crawling on my lower back. I casually swept my hand and saw a scorpion drop to the ground; it must of fallen from the rafters onto my back. I thought nothing of it at the moment. Later, the realization struck me that I had a close call. Those Oregon scorpions are big fellas--about four inches claw to tail. Ugh. We would also have to check our boots and sleeping bags for rattlesnakes too as they liked to sleep inside our gear.

[xtopave]

... and very efficient survivors.

I saw in a documentary they're developing search and rescue droids based on cockroaches movements.

One afternoon I was changing my shirt and felt something crawling on my lower back. I casually swept my hand and saw a scorpion drop to the ground;

This gave my goosbumps! Brrr...

Back in 1972-73 I spent two summers in the Oregon desert on an archaeological dig.

Well, this surely deserves elaboration.

[smokester]

I realise it's all a bit relative, but large critters here are somewhat of a sideshow to passers by. Any insect over an inch overall is considered worthy of a photograph.

I am in the middle of the city so there isn't as much wildlife about as a rule.

Now foxes we have aplenty. They live in our gardens and occasionally wander inside for a snoop.

They're snoop-foxy-foxes

[tarascon]

Well, this surely deserves elaboration.

^ OK, lolly-lol. I'd been put in touch with the museum funding the dig by a teacher of mine in Detroit... First summer on the dig I was 17 and lost my virginity... Second year was the year of the scorpion. The site we were on had been worked for about two years prior to my working there. A Klamath Indian site we dated to c. 800. These folks were active round the time Charlemagne was wiping chicken fat from his beard.

Re creeping things: I'm in a new place--very nice except atm I'm fighting off legions of drought-maddened ants in my kitchen.

[mishca09]

Have you tried chalk to keep the ants at bay

[xtopave]

I'm in a new place--very nice except atm I'm fighting off legions of drought-maddened ants in my kitchen.

I'm glad to hear you like your new place, tarascon.
And those tiny things are surely difficult to fight.

[tarascon]

Have you tried chalk to keep the ants at bay

How does that work? Draw a line on the thresholds? No joke. 

[goldshirt*9]

would assume the ants cannot cross the chalk due to the fact the chalk absorbs the scent trail

Huge spiders atm due to the Autumnal weather