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 buggers! (Page 5)
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| Author | Topic: buggers! |
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ralphyr Housemate |
posted 04-22-2003 03:52 PM
   
quote: Breana, you should write a domestic bug book or at least submit this to a magazine (like the tip of the month)" I just eat the little suckers. Mmmm...bug sprinkles..." You are helping me to face up to the big roaches we have (I accidently stepped on an inch long one and popped it with my bare foot, yeuch). IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 04-23-2003 09:17 AM
The cockroaches in my old place were so enormous, I would often find them in the kitchen, making sandwiches for their nightly poker games. Stepping on the is sooooo gross, especially in bare feet. I tend to turn into a Nike wiedling Bruce Lee wannabe when I see a roach. I won't reast until I have pounded it's little brains out. Then I hose off my shoe and return to my originally scheduled programming. Right now I'm having ant issues. They have colonized the crumb-laden area under my microwave. I am afraid to hit them with a shoe, because I am outnumbered, and if I don't kill them all with the first blow, then they have a weapon. I'm putting ant traps under the damn thing. Hopefully that helps. Hopefully the cats don't decide to excavate underneath the microwave and eat the ant bait. We'll see. Good luck cj and ralphyr! IP: Logged |
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emmalola Housemate |
posted 04-23-2003 12:26 PM
here's a question for you, breana! I found a nasty little bug in our BED this morning. At first I thought it was a little hairball, but on closer inspection I realized that it had little scales in its body. So I did what any horrified and disgusted bed sleeper would do. I screamed. Then I coaxed it into a plastic container, closed the top, and shook it. not too hard, just to see if it was alive. It wasn't. So it looks like this: It is black. it has two tufts of long hair-like things coming out of one end. it's about the size of a piece of rice, only jet black. black rice. It has a lot of little hairs coming out of the whole body, but then there are the two tufts of longer hairs coming out of the tail (?) end. Also very difficult to see are the little legs on the underside of the front 1/3 of the body. We could only see this because sweets has a little 10x hand lens for his forestry work. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Do you think it could be an alien life form? IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 04-26-2003 03:16 PM
Definitely alien. I would send it to Bill Nye, he's quite the Science Guy.  It's super hard to identify things without looking at it, but I would say that since it's dead, your problem is solved! Psst! If you want a true-life entomological identification, you can send it to me. I could pretend that I have a second job as private insect invistigator (which is WAY different than in insect privates investigator, those people are nuts) and I could maybe even wear a fancy badge. IP: Logged |
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emmalola Housemate |
posted 04-26-2003 07:12 PM
I would be interested in an explanation, if you would be so kind. my sweets would like an explanation for why I am ruining a perfectly good plastic container by filling it with a dead bug. could you email a snail mail address to my addy in my profile? muuuchas gracias. IP: Logged |
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Finesse Housemate |
posted 04-28-2003 09:08 AM
im havin ant problems in my room i see them on my desk and by my window and another strange bug i have yet to identify what could i use to get rid of them for good... i have yet to figure out exactly where they r coming from and its grossing me out IP: Logged |
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Gnome Housemate |
posted 04-28-2003 10:43 AM
I have ants. They congregate by the dog dish. I have put traps out, and I vacuum them up everytime I see a bunch. They still trail in.....so I sprayed an indoor bug killer to the edges of my kitchen and it has an orange scent. Its totally overpowering and giving me an aweful headache. Those fuckers better be gone after this. IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 04-28-2003 01:25 PM
quote: This might be the most common phrase in pest control... IP: Logged |
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Finesse Housemate |
posted 04-29-2003 03:00 PM
quote: what trips me out is this other bug... like wth is it.... insects make me feel dirty and i tend to start itchin... but im gonna try some spray IP: Logged |
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Beep Housemate |
posted 04-30-2003 06:39 PM
quote:
This will keep the food from becoming ant bait, and it's actually what a lot of vets recommend doing, especially if your dog is overweight (of course, I have no idea if this is an issue with your dog or not)... Also keep in mind that ants travel using a pheromone trail... so if you can track their movements, then wash the floor/wall clean there, it'll help to deter them, too. IP: Logged |
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suzette Housemate |
posted 05-06-2003 07:54 PM
I have sneaky little red bugs that are feeding on my mint. Not really feeding , more like sucking transparent holes in the leaves. It's the weirdest thing. What totally weirds me out is that they are aware of me, and when I come toward the plant they scatter. Poof. Disappear. Breana, what could these crazy bugs be? They have red bellies, and they're kind of shaped like lighting bugs, but they look meaner somehow. I'm pretty sure they're some kind of beetle (but since I failed on my bug collection in 9th grade, I' can't be sure!). The wings are hard and have yellow and black perpendicular stripes. But there are other wings underneath the outer shell-like wings. They suck holes in the mint leaves that don't damage the plant tissue at all - you can almost see through them. Like tissue paper, sort of. I've never seen anything like this before - well, they were here last year. It's the weirdest, most ANNOYING thing! We've been looking forward to Mint Juleps and Mojitos all dang winter - and now these creatures have decided to inhabit, and ravage our precious supply of mint. IP: Logged |
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chitowngal Housesitter |
posted 05-06-2003 09:02 PM
okay, I shouldn't read this thread at night because after I read the first sentence, I pictured you at your desk or something with a Life Saver mint or something with red bugs on it...oh man I need sleep.... IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 05-07-2003 08:16 AM
Suzette, as a lover of mint julips I must declare, "There are bugs on your mint??? Noooooo!" Okay, now that THAT'S out of my system... Your post is a little confusing to me. As I've said, it's hard to identify pests without seeing them. The damage you are describing is called "skeletonizing," a process by which the bugs take everything but the xylem veins. It's horrid. Your description made me think that it was a Colorado potato beetle, or CPB for those in the know *wink wink*. They are wicked skeletonizers, and they eat EVERYTHING, not just potato. They are just rotten little things, and they will eventually chew the whole stalk down. For some reason they hate tomatoes, and a colleague of mine is working on inserting tomato genes into potato to protect the world potato crop from massive CPB damage. But I digress... If it isn't CPB, I don't know what it might be. Mint is an unusual plant to have pests on. Most bugs hate mint, but there are a few specialized ones. The University of Idaho has a pdf file about mint pests which you can read if you have an adobe acrobat viewer. Click on "Insect Control Recommendations for Mint Production in Idaho" for the pdf file. The pests should be similar to those in Texas, unless you have some sort of rare Mexican bug I've never heard of before. Good luck! edited because I pulled a Dan Quayle... [This message has been edited by breana (edited 05-07-2003).] IP: Logged |
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suzette Housemate |
posted 05-07-2003 09:29 AM
hmmmm. The CPB looks slightly rounder than these things. But they do look an awful lot like that. I'm going to try and get a really good look at one. It's hard though - because they are so fast! And they take off when they see me coming. Thanks for the links. I'm not sure it's a CPB, and it didn't appear on the Idaho list. Maybe I do have some weird bug from Mexico! I had them last year too, and eventually they just went away. IP: Logged |
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Epicurus Housemate |
posted 05-07-2003 09:43 AM
quote: Mmmm...pomato....aaggghhh IP: Logged |
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yam Housemate |
posted 05-07-2003 10:14 AM
I think you mean.. topato!!! IP: Logged |
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Dewgirl Housesitter |
posted 05-07-2003 12:12 PM
Or possibly tomacco 
IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 05-07-2003 01:32 PM
Bwahahaaaa! You guys crack me up. Pomato, Topato, Tomacco, I love them ALL and shall suggest them to Walt the next time I talk to him. And good luck Suzette! IP: Logged |
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Sic Housemate |
posted 05-08-2003 05:40 AM
breana - I turn to your expertice on this one. I have many pests in my apartment, but the two most prevalent are spiders and house centipedes. Are these two bugs on the same level of the food chain, or does one consume the other? I am trying to figure out a humane way we can all live together because my instinct is to kill on site, but if they are eating each other, that would be great. Thanks a lot! [This message has been edited by Sic (edited 05-08-2003).] IP: Logged |
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suzette Housemate |
posted 05-08-2003 06:52 AM
Sic, it's bad luck to kill spiders!! Ok, I think the Mean Red Bugs are CPBs - that is if CPBs fly and scoot around really quickly. But the ones in my mint don't have the 10 black lines described in the link. I'm assuming they've taken up residence in the dirt in the pot, so my plan of action is to get real brave and repot the mint with fresh dirt and dump the old dirt way away from my yard. I really hope they don't bite me. IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 05-08-2003 02:40 PM
Suzette, even if they do bite, it shouldn't hurt. They have TINY mouths, it's more likey they will poke you with their pokey little feet. I have been bitten by ooooooodles of bugs, so maybe I'm biased, but don't be afraid. Just say to them, 'I am huge and you are tiny and I can crush you!' and they will quiver in fear. Maybe! Sic, centipedes and spiders will eat each other if they come in contact with each other. They are both very beneficial predators, but opportunistic ones at that. IP: Logged |
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Merimoo Housemate |
posted 05-22-2003 10:26 PM
Aaaargh! I have a gazillion 1 mm bugs or spiders (too small to tell) running around my kitchen and bathroom. And they bite! I have welts on both legs. They're mostly black, but some look red and some are transparent, which is even weirder. I talked to my landlady today and she's going to get someone up here, but I want them gone now! I'm itching all over, just imagining them on me, although there probably are some. ick, ick, ick! IP: Logged |
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HotGlueMama Housemate |
posted 05-28-2003 10:03 PM
OK, fought to the death with the world's largest domestic spider the other day. Seriously - I live in the Bay Area, which is like DIsneyland for spiders; I have seen every sort of spider, and this sucker was twice the size of anything I've ever seen. The BODY, not counting legs, was slightly smaller than a penny. It was medium brown and had hairy legs. Anybody know where I can try to find out what it was? I'm worried it was a brown recluse or the legendary "Mega kill death hiding under your pillow" spider. IP: Logged |
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ralphyr Housemate |
posted 05-28-2003 10:52 PM
I know that these are australian spidersbut the graphics are especially good and it might make you feel better about your own spider. Could it be a huntsman spider? They are really big, I don't usually kill them because they eat all the nasties.
[This message has been edited by ralphyr (edited 05-28-2003).] IP: Logged |
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crowjoy Housemate |
posted 05-29-2003 05:46 AM
quote: It sounds like a wolf spider though I don't know if they live in your area. They're a really beneficial spider though so while it's tempting to freak out whenever I see one I just ask it to eat more palmetto bugs. IP: Logged |
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PixieGrl Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 09:22 AM
Ok, I've searched the thread, found everything I need to know about vinegar eels and flour beetles, but I found nothing about the little white bugs that have infested the leaves on my rose bushes! Does anyone know what they are and how I can get rid of them? Better yet, I don't care what they are, I just want to get rid of them. They're planted next to these ugly hedges and I think they came from there onto my precious roses. We're eventually pulling up the hedges, but what to do in the meantime???? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? IP: Logged |
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yam Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 09:41 AM
Do they fly around or not? Probably whiteflies if yes, aphids if not. Either way you can try the home remedy of using a wet soapy cloth to gently wipe off the leaves of your plant. Bugs hate soap. Or if it's aphids, you can use it as an excuse to find ladybugs and put them on your roses. Ladybugs think aphids are delicious. IP: Logged |
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PixieGrl Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 09:55 AM
Thanks Yam! They don't fly, they just sit there on my leaves. Must be aphids. Gross little things, they are. There are tons 'em. OK, that's my chore for the weekend. Thanks for the tip! IP: Logged |
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kbmello Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 10:48 AM
Ok, our office has been infiltrated with these itty-bitty red bugs who seem to love paper. And seeing as we're a publishing company, there are lots and lots of them. I have no idea what they are, but it's starting to drive me mad. Everytime I turn a sheet of paper, there's another one. Has anyone ever had such an experience? Or have a clue where I can go to try and find out what kind of bugger they are? Thanks so much! IP: Logged |
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Merimoo Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 02:59 PM
Well, the exterminator has identified my bugs as pigeon mites. Fun, fun... IP: Logged |
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Beep Housemate |
posted 05-30-2003 03:45 PM
quote: Well, here is a photo of a brown recluse, and the info on this spider is here. And here is more info and a map showing the range of this spider. Heh... happy spidering... IP: Logged |
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tree Housemate |
posted 06-02-2003 01:56 PM
Ok... so I won't be clicking on any more links in this section! I'm afraid I'll be checking my bed twice before I sleep now. My home is spider central. My husband swears they filmed arachnophobia in our town. I can handle the daddy long legs and I even like torturing the wolf spiders, but all the rest should just stay out of my site. IP: Logged |
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lduds Housemate |
posted 06-02-2003 02:27 PM
Last night as I was making pasta for dinner a DEAD cockaroach fell down from the ceiling onto the floor, whizzing by my head and my food!! ACCKKKK!!!!!! IP: Logged |
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geckogurl Housesitter |
posted 06-03-2003 09:58 AM
quote: ugh ugh ugh!!!! that gave me nasty nasty shivers!! IP: Logged |
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Lis Housemate |
posted 07-08-2003 01:22 PM
*bump* IP: Logged |
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fluffygurl Housesitter |
posted 07-09-2003 04:57 AM
Part of the reason Im moving out of the flat is the spiders. Then one from last night was truely terrifying though. Ireland isnt exactly renowned for its insect life. The spiders over here are the bog standard black house spiders about the size of your fingernail. This one however was the size of my freakin hand. We were sitting there last night and I caught something in the corner of my eye moving. A big spider furry browny black with a bright orage stripe was scurrying out of the bathroom door. Being the typical female I screeched and lept onto the sofa. My flat mate got scared cos I was scared and started screaming as well. Eventually I managed to open out front door and she got a mop to try and push it out but it managed to get under the fridge and we havent seen it since. Im scared to go back into the flat now. I keep imagining Ill find it in my bed or it will jump on my head as Im having a shower. I know Im a big scardey cat but help! What type of spider was it? The body was slightly smaller the the palm of my hand and the legs were streached out to the rest of my hand (Not accurate I know I could have giant hands for all ya know!) I dont really want to go knocking around the different flats in the building cos 1 It might scare people to know theres a big hariy spider on the loose and 2 I never see anyone in my building. I think it might be someones pet but can't be sure. I dont really want to look at pictures of spiders on the web cos that will freak me out more. Anyone have any ideas how to get rid of it? Help Help Help IP: Logged |
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amie Housemate |
posted 07-09-2003 05:19 AM
i don't know if anyone has mentioned this or not but it's my bubba's favourite tip - sprinkle citric acid wherever you have ants; that'll kill em. IP: Logged |
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yam Housemate |
posted 07-09-2003 06:57 AM
Oh fluff how awful! That must have been terrifying. It sounds exactly like someone's pet Tarantula. It'll probably just stay hiding under your fridge - most tarantulas kept as pets are females who just hang around catching bugs to eat at night and hiding during the day. If you see it, the tarantula society suggests using a paintbrush to push it in to a jar, and then releasing it somewhere far away from you. But then in Ireland that'd probably kill it pretty fast! Maybe you could put a sign in the lobby saying "did you lose a pet spider? pls call fluff at xxx-xxxx", you might luck out and have the owner come do the dirty work of catching the spider, plus you'll have a chance to scold him for letting big hairy spiders run loose in your flat. IP: Logged |
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breana Housemate |
posted 07-09-2003 12:41 PM
Holy moly that's a big spider. It HAS to be a tarantula. An escapee, if you will. I have caught them in the desert, and even I squealed a little. I'm still a girl, after all. IP: Logged |
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fluffygurl Housesitter |
posted 07-10-2003 02:18 AM
Thanks for all your help! I put up a sign on the notice board last night asking if anyone had lost a spider to contact me. So far no one. Im guessing it might be because pets arent allowed in the building they might be a little worried about fessing up. I havent seen the spider since but I didnt sleep well last night kept thinking that I felt something on my leg. Ive also taken to wearing hard soled runners and shoes around the flat instead of going barefoot. Are female tarantulas poisionous? Please say no. This is my worst nightmare. I am phobic about spiders. Thank raga Im moving out on Saturday|! IP: Logged |
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