| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 09:56:59
So I wake up today for an early 8am start, had a few drinks the night before and a late night so didn't sleep well (especially with this damn heat) overslept the alarm, haf half hour to get ready so ran into the bathroom for a shower and .... SPIDER ON THE SHOWERHEAD! had a grueling 15 minute battle with him, him with his venomous teethy bites and me armed with little more than a toilet brush and the occasionall loo-roll cannonball, we fought for what seemed like an eternity until finally I vanquished my foe sending him to a watery grave!
Was bloody late for work too! Doesn't look good when your security turns up late and says "Sorry, there was a spider in my bathroom" :(
Twice this has happened now, missed a dentist appointment once because a spider got on my shower curtain and I got stuck in the shower for about 30 minutes longer than intended, anyone else ever been trapped by a fear? |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lincsfox |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 17:15:52
I'm with the spider people. I was bitten by one as a kid, I remember it vividly, I picked it up, and cupped my hands to take it out as my mother was scared, and at the time I wasn't, it wasn't even huge, maybe the size of an old 50p. Whilst I was walking it to put it in the garden it bit me, bloody hurt as well, and my hand swelled up like a goodun. I dropped it and it got a little size 13 in it's head, and I have to say I don't feel an ounce of guilt for it. Since then I've been petrified. I went to stay with some friends, drove 200 miles to Southampton to find out that he's got a tarantula since I'd last seen him. refused to sleep in the house, booked into a travel lodge! |
| n/a |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 11:17:33
This is the only moth you need fear in regard to clothes -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tineola_bisselliella
And it's the larvae that eat cloth.
The rest of them leave their larvae out of doors to nosh on plants - not much comfort of course if you're phobic and there's a whopper zooming round the lampshade.
I remember a similar thread to this ages ago on TCS, and I pointed out that the only good thing about slugs is that they can't fly ...imaging one flubbering around the light and going sssss on the bulb. (Well, I don't MIND slugs, in fact some are beautiful but I get a bit narked when they choose to have a go at my favourite plants.)
Yeah, Strawb, I'd heard that myth about bats getting in your hair. Considering their brilliant radar system that's just ridiculous. I've walked through a wood full of bats and although they flew all round me, none of them even touched me. |
| JanieW |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 10:52:46
*grins* Nikki good post but I keep all windows closed at night, so not many get inside, and those that do either get 'treatment' from me, or captured and put back outside if Steve is home at the time. So one way or another they don't get to stay inside long enough to lay eggs lol |
| NikkiB |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 10:44:42
Back to moths - if you are really terrified of them and/or are fed up with them eating your clothes, and want to do something about it, here are some tips:
1. REMOVE Take everything out of your wardrobes and drawers and thoroughly vacuum.
2. CLEAN - Clean all storage AND clothes, as moths love traces of food and sweat on fabrics.
3. KILL Choose a method of eradicating your moth population from your home. There are many sprays, powders and more that will kill all stages of the moth from eggs and larvae to adults.
4. DETER As prevention is the best cure, protect your fabrics with chemical moth repellents or cedar wood or natural anti moth scented sachets, depending on your preference, to stop moths returning. For expensive garments, its also a good idea to find air tight storage solutions.
5. MONITOR - Place pheromone moth traps close to affected areas to monitor for adult moths which will also break the breeding cycle and reduce their numbers.
6. REFRESH - Keep replacing deterrents every 3 to 6 months, as they will wear out and lose their scents in time. Keeping on top of this problem will keep you and your clothes safe.
You can get loads more info and help from http://www.mothprevention.com. Good luck!
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| frambo |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 23:20:50
I used to have a phobia of locusts but I got over that one by keeping a couple as pets. I'm the sort of person that finds it very difficult to have a phobia of anything. I think if you respect all creatures and are sensible then you shouldn't have anything bad happen to you.
For example, when I'm out in Africa, sometimes as part of the job I have to be on foot in lion country. Do I have a fear of lions? No. Would I like to come across one while on foot? No.
Same goes with spiders and the such. Wouldn't like to have one run over my face but I'm hoping that if I give it no reason to come near me / bite me then it won't.
(P.S. This is coming from someone that feels bad to kill a daddy long legs or an ant... there's no way I could allow a fear to get the better of me and kill something for no reason other than it scared me.)
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| JanieW |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 21:25:07
Thing is Strawb, many of the phobia, if not all have no logical explaination if you sit and dissect, but it makes the fear no less and not only animal phobias. There are scientific names for a phobia of just about anything in everyday life.
Sharks pose a very real threat, so that fear is understandable.
I do believe that mankind has retained primitive insticts, basic survival instict and inbuilt fear of creatures that could and would harm in some situations, so when encountered the subconsious takes over 'Fight or flight'
Hmm but I have opened a topic that could be debated for hours..Evolution.. so i'll shut up now lol
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| Lotabob |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 21:08:20
I love bats, they are beautiful little creatures, I live by a river and in the middle of a park and woodland, every night I can hear the bats squeaking as they fly by, I love to sit and watch them at dusk and there is a place I go that I call bat-alley as they seem to gather there on mass. I think its because its dark and between trees and just next to the river where flies gather too. I've seen on my balcony once, it was tiny and had the cutest face. I would love to put up some bat boxes on my building but its not allowed. |
| Strawb |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 20:37:04
Bats, like many other creatures e.g. sharks, spiders and of course snakes, have undeservedly bad reputations. With bats it's a mixture of ignorance, bad press (Bram Stokers Dracula has a lot to answer for) and old wives tales that nobody ever bothers to question. For example, many people believe bats fly into your hair. Despite this obviously not being of any evolutionary benefit to the bat, as I point out to people when clearing up this ridiculous belief, has anybody ever known somebody who has had a bat fly into their syrup?
People also seem to think bats are at least the size of a crow and are very surprised when I show them a pipistrelle bat that as an adult can sit on your thumb. Britain's largest bat, the noctule, can fit into the palm of your hand.
Sorry about the rant, but animal phobias with no logical basis really gets my goat. |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 20:18:18
ps On very hot nights in inner city Wakefield there is sometimes a bat in these back alleys; you can hear the papery flittering of his wings as he swoops up and down after insects and watch him zooming up and down in the dark ...sooo cool! |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 20:13:57
quote:
Originally posted by Strawb
Fluttering creatures and a regular face full of insects is all part of my job. I work with bats (the winged mammals, not the snake keeping one on this forum )and naturally it's always the night shift.
A head torch is standard equipment. You have all seen what effect a light bulb has on moths and other nocturnal insects. You can imagine what it's like when I turn the head torch on. It gets difficult to see sometimes.
Also sitting in a pitch dark cave with just the dripping of water and the fluttering of the bats wings as the only sounds is fantastic.
LOL - you work with bats?????
Good on yer!
Coooooollll! |
| austin_89 |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 20:10:48
Spiders scare the hell outta me but with ebony and DK (the insect patrol) they don't get far in my house...
My girlfriend once stayed under the duvet for ten mins without coming out while I battled with a daddy long legs to get him out the bedroom, was a battle well fought  |
| Strawb |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 20:08:01
Fluttering creatures and a regular face full of insects is all part of my job. I work with bats (the winged mammals, not the snake keeping one on this forum)and naturally it's always the night shift.
A head torch is standard equipment. You have all seen what effect a light bulb has on moths and other nocturnal insects. You can imagine what it's like when I turn the head torch on. It gets difficult to see sometimes.
Also sitting in a pitch dark cave with just the dripping of water and the fluttering of the bats wings as the only sounds is fantastic.
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| JanieW |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 16:43:40
They aren't calling and there's no sign atm so here's hoping, I don't like separating if they had laid, but on the other hand all our sailing gear is stacked in there beside the generator. Besides the fact that low swooping birds freak me out.
My fear of moths started when I was a toddler, cept then I went crazy if a housefly was in my bedroom, i'd yell 'There's a pub in here!!' yeah I was terrified of houseflies lol can you imagine that all year *G* |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 16:33:52
Well imo the critters come first - I thought I might have a similar dilemma in my garden this spring - 2 blackbirds seemed very interested in the creepers over the shed and imo the only thing to do if they started building a nest would have been to cold-bloodedly destroy it (in view of 4 interested cats, who are confined to house and garden) before the eggs arrived. If the martins haven't laid yet, Janie, then I'd keep your shed door closed and force them to build elsewhere.
DO sympathise with phobias though.
ps a house spider bite is only a nip - a corn snake could do better lol. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:38:00
What BAT's said has got me thinking now actually, I'd happily kill every wasp in my garden without a second thought but if somebody said the same about snakes I'd think they're evil uneducated fools who are scared for no reason, probably with a fear brought on by movies and media. Rather hipocritical :O guess I have to double-take the next time I hear somebody saying how much they hate snakes! |
| JanieW |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:31:51
I'm not a wimp grr lol just self preservation as everybody knows that just one bite from a moth causes as agonising death.
Spiders bite too, one bit Katana last year |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:29:37
Haha we can't all be as fearless as you :( |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:27:22
Kelf you are the author of this thread, do us all a favour and rename it 'damn wimps'. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:27:17
lol nah Jayde is the moth poisoner it seems xD
I am generally the same with Spiders if they're stopping me from doing something (like getting to work on time!) then they're going to get the quick treatment of removal (Death) but if they're scampering across the floor I'll normally put a glass on them and then beg somebody to remove it for me (too scared to do that whole paper on the bottom thing :P ) |
| JanieW |
Posted - 27/05/2012 : 15:24:45
lol I didn't bleach the moths, it was my dog that got splattered..he was fine cept his black hair had blonde spots hehe
*grins* I reread my post and I never said I bleached the moth, tho I probably would have done if it meant I wouldn't be bombed by the sods! lol
Any moth that enters this house uninvited it liable to my wrath! :P
Like last year there was a huge, hairy moth on the iron candleabra (SP) so I couldn't swipe it with a towel, I stabbed it with a golf umbrella, woke Kit up at 2am to pick it up for me, it moved, she screamed so I gave her a shoe to flatten it.
I have the eebies even thinking about em. |
