Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Hawaii > Big Island
 [Register]
Big Island The Island of Hawaii
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 05-27-2007, 11:57 PM
 
51 posts, read 326,033 times
Reputation: 23

Advertisements

Yep...need to ask this one. I dont want too, but I gotta! So, how bad are they if Im living in the Kona area in a condo? Actually, I am subletting a house in the Pines, anyone know of it???
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 05-28-2007, 01:00 AM
 
Location: Kūkiʻo, HI & Manhattan Beach, CA
2,624 posts, read 7,267,629 times
Reputation: 2416
Quote:
Originally Posted by firecoach View Post
Yep...need to ask this one. I dont want too, but I gotta! So, how bad are they if Im living in the Kona area in a condo? Actually, I am subletting a house in the Pines, anyone know of it???
Well, the cockroaches in Hawai'i can fly and some of them are bold enough to attack. Fortunately, a well-aimed blow with a slippah will dispatch them. Mosquitoes can also be somewhat of a problem, along with fire ants, centipedes, spiders and scorpions. Bugs love Hawai'i almost as much as humans.

Gordon Nishida and Joann Tenorio's "What Bit Me? Identifying Hawai'i's Stinging and Biting Insects and Their Kin" is worth reading.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-28-2007, 01:59 AM
 
Location: Pahoa Hawaii
2,081 posts, read 5,604,206 times
Reputation: 2820
Probably your most common visitor in Kona will be the Day Gecko- The Geico type gecko, they're your friends, nothing they like better than a juicy bug.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-28-2007, 04:46 PM
 
Location: Na'alehu Hawaii/Buena Vista Colorado
5,528 posts, read 12,690,061 times
Reputation: 6198
Firecoach, it's worth asking your landlord if they do any exteriminating. If not, make sure that your bedclothes do not touch the floor (those bugs like to crawl up the covers into the bed) and don't walk around at night with bare feet. Also, you may want to invest in some ant traps as the teeny ants seem to be everywhere. If you have a couple of Geckos hanging around, then that is good as they like to eat the bugs. Be very, very careful of the centipedes, especially the blue ones. Whacking them with a shoe sometimes doesn't even slow them down.

Last edited by Dreaming of Hawaii; 05-28-2007 at 04:47 PM.. Reason: found a typo
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-28-2007, 06:13 PM
 
51 posts, read 326,033 times
Reputation: 23
Thx for the suggestion on the book....

I saw my 1st large centipede today in NM.....last one I saw was in NC and it was tiny. I heard that the red ones are to be watched out for. The condo has A/C and screens on the windows.....so, do the centipedes get in just through opening/closing doors? I will surely ask about exterminating. I had to in NC (we also had flying roaches there but not attacking 'pedes) but I really dont like too. However, I am not one to deal with nasty bug bites either....such as centipedes. I will welcome the gecko's anytime....what about the mongooses? Do they attack too?? And what do you DO if you see a 'pede attacking you or in your home??
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 12:37 AM
 
Location: Pahoa Hawaii
2,081 posts, read 5,604,206 times
Reputation: 2820
Centipedes can get through tiny holes, but are usually seen only in buildings built on concrete slab. They don't attack so much as blunder in, usually during droughts. (The bite is nasty, like a bee sting, painful, not fatal). The mongoose is sneaky, shy and usually is only seen around garbage cans at night, and running across roads during daylight. I've never heard of anyone getting bit.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 12:45 PM
 
216 posts, read 1,186,477 times
Reputation: 136
Default Nasty Little Critters!

Quote:
Originally Posted by firecoach View Post
Thx for the suggestion on the book....

I saw my 1st large centipede today in NM.....last one I saw was in NC and it was tiny. I heard that the red ones are to be watched out for. The condo : And what do you DO if you see a 'pede attacking you or in your home??
We have large scissors around the house at strategically placed areas. We have gotten really good at snipping those little heads off (but you gotta be quick, and you can't hesitate or they will crawl behind the dresser...and then you really have a problem.)

The blue centipedes are nasty little critters. And don't let size fool you. The little ones can hurt as much (if not more sometimes) than the big ones.

The good thing is, is that they don't "attack" unless you are a cockroach. They mostly just happen to be at the same place as you. Mostly at night too.

We don't let any sheets touch the ground, and don't have a bed skirt.

I am amazed at how they can get in our house sometimes. And somehow, we still manage to have them even though we have quarterly extermination!

It's just part of living in Hawaii. You just learn to deal with them, and not really think about it all of the time...kind of like living with earthquakes.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 12:56 PM
 
51 posts, read 326,033 times
Reputation: 23
I really appreciate the info. I feel a little better now....I think! I looked them up online and just got very depressed yesterday....and now I have snapped out of it somewhat! lol! I know, Im a bug whimp. Maybe the BI will get me over that!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 07:09 PM
 
Location: not sure, but there's a hell of a lot of water around here!
2,682 posts, read 7,580,958 times
Reputation: 3882
If you're really lucky the Gecko may end up being your "amakua", kind of like a gaurdian angel here in Hawaii. I leave a light on near the window all night long, attracts bugs and hence, Geckos! Easy kaukau for the little guys. Best defense against the dreaded centipede is a vacum cleaner, or just a small container, drop the container over the centipede, slide paper under the container, and toss the pede. Many here consider it bad luck to kill a centipede, and Don't Ever harm a Gecko. Problem on Maui now is these Veiled Chameleons, get to be about a foot long, and are now infesting Kapalua side, procreate like crazy.

Aloha,
Thomas Praetzel
On Maui for 32 years, may stay
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 11:30 PM
 
51 posts, read 326,033 times
Reputation: 23
Wow....dang. Bugs. I like Geckos and wouldnt kill one. I will try to trap the 'pede IF I see one....thx for the light idea. I think I will have it on from dusk-dawn now...... How about the mosquitos? I hate toxic pesticides.....any ideas???
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2022 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Hawaii > Big Island
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top