Do you have a pet?

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

My first thought on seeing it was: "KILL IT, KILL IT, KILL IT!!!!" And I like bugs.

In case anyone wants to know, it's a relative of the centipede (the scary one they keep locked in the basement).

Oh those!
They're useful creatures, hunters, just like spiders.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Oh those!
They're useful creatures, hunters, just like spiders.

...and sharks.



Cheers,
Marc

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Actually, I thought the pics of it were quite cute, in a 70s fringe kind of way. I know I'd react rather differently if I found one in the house though!

Originally Posted by Nate the great

My first thought on seeing it was: "KILL IT, KILL IT, KILL IT!!!!" And I like bugs.

In case anyone wants to know, it's a relative of the centipede (the scary one they keep locked in the basement).

I've seen one of those, and my first thought was: what is that!?!?!?! I had to look it up and read it eats other insects. So, I let it be. I thought it was an awesome thing to look at.

I did notice we get less and less insects, the further we are at rebuilding the house...

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I've seen one of those, and my first thought was: what is that!?!?!?! I had to look it up and read it eats other insects. So, I let it be. I thought it was an awesome thing to look at.

I did notice we get less and less insects, the further we are at rebuilding the house...

Although we also get the spiders, the solitary wasps, and the hornets eating the insects and each other, I think one of the bigger insect-controls we have are the geckos that come out at night and chase the insects around the walls and roof. If it wasn't for the little choc-mint Tic-tacs they leave around (and they chirping annoys some people) they'd probably be the perfect insect control.

Cheers,
Marc

[LazyScot]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Although we also get the spiders, the solitary wasps, and the hornets eating the insects and each other, I think one of the bigger insect-controls we have are the geckos that come out at night and chase the insects around the walls and roof. If it wasn't for the little choc-mint Tic-tacs they leave around (and they chirping annoys some people) they'd probably be the perfect insect control.

Cheers,
Marc

We used to have a bee's nest in the garden (on the bank, under the sleepers). I didn't mind it, though better half really didn't like it (we once had a wasp's nest in another house....). I say used to, since we also have badgers that occasionally visit (not that I've seen them; I like my bed too much...) and they decided to have a late night snack.

I just wish that the bats that live in a neighbours house were a bit more enthusiastic about eating the tiny little wannabe midges that we have around here -- the biting ones that seem to find me exceptionally tasty.

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Although we also get the spiders, the solitary wasps, and the hornets eating the insects and each other, I think one of the bigger insect-controls we have are the geckos that come out at night and chase the insects around the walls and roof. If it wasn't for the little choc-mint Tic-tacs they leave around (and they chirping annoys some people) they'd probably be the perfect insect control.

Cheers,
Marc

We've got geckos living around us too, but ours are out and about during the day as well. Ours don't chirp. I think they're technically anoles but they look just like the GEICO gecko and they change colors from shades of browns to shades of green. They're so fun to watch and I've been photographing them for years. I've caught them sunning, shedding, catching insects, being territorial, mating (yep, I've got quite a collection of gecko porn) and fighting. Boy, do they get ugly when they're fighting!

[yvanleterrible]

There is something about every predator that bothers.

Sudden start from a dead still position to full running speed.
Speed of movement.
Unpredictability .
A steady gaze coupled with a reshifting of posture.

Even though an animal is small, those traits unconsciouly awaken the preset alarms built in the mind that protect us from bigger predators.

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

There is something about every predator that bothers.

Sudden start from a dead still position to full running speed.
Speed of movement.
Unpredictability .
A steady gaze coupled with a reshifting of posture.

Even though an animal is small, those traits unconsciouly awaken the preset alarms built in the mind that protect us from bigger predators.

Not only that, but they really, physically get UGLY.

[zelda_pinwheel]

actually spiders give me the shuddering heebies because they look like disembodied hands walking around (yeah yeah yeah, 8 legs vs. 5 fingers. still !). and not in a quirky funny way like Thing from the Addams family.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

actually spiders give me the shuddering heebies because they look like disembodied hands walking around (yeah yeah yeah, 8 legs vs. 5 fingers. still !). and not in a quirky funny way like Thing from the Addams family.

Oh, I love that Thing!
I do an imitation of an elephant with my hand that I started to calm kids down and I have gotten to a point where it even amazes adults. It's easy, the middle finger is the trunk and the others are the legs. You just walk the hand on a cluttered table and sniff around all objects. The trick is to constantly move the trunk, up,down, sideways...

The reactions on the kid's faces are worth it. Even on their parent's.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

My first thought on seeing it was: "KILL IT, KILL IT, KILL IT!!!!" And I like bugs.

In case anyone wants to know, it's a relative of the centipede (the scary one they keep locked in the basement).

aaaah, damned, i don't have to google, i *do* know what that thing is. :shudder: my reaction would be to climb on top of a chair or possibly a table or even taller furniture (if it were on the floor) or else to shout "run away ! run away !" and combine the words with the actions.

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Oh, I love that Thing!
I do an imitation of an elephant with my hand that I started to calm kids down and I have gotten to a point where it even amazes adults. It's easy, the middle finger is the trunk and the others are the legs. You just walk the hand on a cluttered table and sniff around all objects. The trick is to constantly move the trunk, up,down, sideways...

The reactions on the kid's faces are worth it. Even on their parent's.

hee ! i love that Thing too. i love the Addams family (the old 60's tv series). and i'm sure i wouldn't be afraid of your hand-elephant. it sounds very cute and funny.

[draghetto]

Ohhh nice someone added ferrett, now i can vote

[columbus]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible;

There is something about every predator that bothers.

Sudden start from a dead still position to full running speed.
Speed of movement.
Unpredictability .
A steady gaze coupled with a reshifting of posture.

Even though an animal is small, those traits unconsciouly awaken the preset alarms built in the mind that protect us from bigger predators.

I thought this thread was about pets? - Not lawyers!!!

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

aaaah, damned, i don't have to google, i *do* know what that thing is. :shudder: my reaction would be to climb on top of a chair or possibly a table or even taller furniture (if it were on the floor) or else to shout "run away ! run away !" and combine the words with the actions.

I wish I'd let you google it.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I wish I'd let you google it.

not likely.