How do people in the south deal with all those nasty bugs? (fit in, apartment)
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I just posted about this in a thread in the Indiana forum but I want to ask again: how do people in the south (both east and west) stand all those bugs: snakes, scorpions, spiders, worms, etc.? In MN I might have to do deal with the occasional mosquitos but not often. And I particularly remember the worms that always sprang up every time it rained. Back when we lived in Tulsa, OK, in the early 90s, sometimes we'd wake up and we'd see scorpions in our bathtubs. Crap!
I typically pass the day in my giant self contained hamster ball. It doesn't fit in the mud hut my 8 siblings live in so I park myself next to the opossums when I'm ready to call it a night.
I guess you're asking about people that really do live out in the boonies? I live in 'burbs (close to the boonies though) so the only thing I worry about is the occasional snake. I hate snakes...
Mosquitoes were almost non-existent this year for whatever reason...thankfully. We have scorpions here in Arkansas but I think they like to stay on the western side.
I admit I'm not fond of anything you listed either, but I like the outdoors so I have to suck it up and endure. (I endure with a big stick and a pistol when I go into snake territory though)
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A monthly visit from the exterminator helps.
Snakes are not as big a deal as you think...I rarely see them, and if I do, it's usually in or around an ivy bed.
I just posted about this in a thread in the Indiana forum but I want to ask again: how do people in the south (both east and west) stand all those bugs: snakes, scorpions, spiders, worms, etc.? In MN I might have to do deal with the occasional mosquitos but not often. And I particularly remember the worms that always sprang up every time it rained. Back when we lived in Tulsa, OK, in the early 90s, sometimes we'd wake up and we'd see scorpions in our bathtubs. Crap!
How do southern people deal with it? It's nasty!
it's not that big of a deal. if you keep your house clean they typically won't get in your house and when your outside they don't bother you except for the mosquitos and that's what mosquito repellent is for.
There's really nothing to be afraid of. The only 3 bugs that are a concern in the south are brown recluse spiders (which dont kill you), black widows (which a bite from one is pretty rare considering how plentiful they are--and its NOT a sure death sentence like many think it is), and cockroaches, which can spread disease if left unchecked. Scorpions are all over this country (even in southern IL), and the only one that is POTENTIALLY life threatening is the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides exilicauda/sculpturatus). If people would take a little time to research the critters they are so afraid of, they might learn a thing or two and get over their silly phobias.
Snakes? Venomous snakes inhabit all but 4 states, so its not like youre immune to them in that manner. Even then, snakes are very reclusive, they want nothing to do with you. If you get bit its probably because you reached under or around something and didnt check first or were harassing the snake or accidentally stepped on one. Even then, your chances of dying from a snakebite are extremely slim, theyre not the monsters everyone makes them out to be. The real monsters are mosquitos and rodents, the ultimate killing machines. Whats funny is that the things people truly are afraid of (spiders and snakes) are actually our friends and dispatch the dangerous creatures by the millions everyday.
tthe bugs are not that bad here in New Mexico but I do find alot of earwigs in my apartment and sometimes a rollie pollie here and there, they are harmless but I dont care I still dont like em in here.
there are brown recluse spiders in NM too and they may not kill you but they sure can do some damage to ya.
Another thing is the Child of the Earth bug, its the ugliest freaky looking thing Ive ever seen in person.
I found this in my apartment last week---
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r90/jaredtorre/100_3222.jpg?t=1222282778 (broken link)
tthe bugs are not that bad here in New Mexico but I do find alot of earwigs in my apartment and sometimes a rollie pollie here and there, they are harmless but I dont care I still dont like em in here.
there are brown recluse spiders in NM too and they may not kill you but they sure can do some damage to ya.
Another thing is the Child of the Earth bug, its the ugliest freaky looking thing Ive ever seen in person.
I found this in my apartment last week---
Cool!
Nice little scorp! I often travel to the southwest just so I can find scorpions, Ive kept MANY as pets, theyre very intruiging.
And the "child of the earth" bug is also known as a "Jerusalem cricket" or "potato bug". I know people who have tried to feed those to their tarantulas and scorpions, only to have the Jerusalem cricket kill their scorpions, etc. Theyre harmless to humans, but can still freak out many people.
The bugs that often freak out people the most are giant centipedes of the south and southwest of the Scolopendra genus (ie Scolopendra heros arizonensis). Those suckers can get to around 8-10" long. Other bugs that also freak people out are "tailless whipscorpions" and vinegaroons, but those are also harmless (unless you get the vinegaroon's defensive spray in your eyes--it burns like the devil).
I hardly ever have to deal with bugs. And I can't remember the last time I saw a snake. Like someone else, I don't live in the "boonies" so they're not really a problem. I imagine country folk have their way of dealing with them. When you love a place you're willing to put up with whatever little nuisances that may exist there. Every state has them.
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