Like ticks and chiggers weren't enough....

[new_shooter]

Wheel bugs rarely bite humans, but when they do most people describe it as more painful than stings from wasps/bees. When they catch prey they stab it with their beaks (long, thin noses) and then inject an enzyme that acts like an acid, liquifying soft tissues so that they can be sucked out.

That same enzyme is why wheel bug bites often cause quite a bit of damage, taking weeks or even months to heal. They aren't nearly as dangerous (potentially lethal) as snake bites, but they are far from pleasant.

On the plus side, they hunt stinkbugs. So it's not all bad.

 

[Half-cocked]

Wheel bugs rarely bite humans, but when they do most people describe it as more painful than stings from wasps/bees. When they catch prey they stab it with their beaks (long, thin noses) and then inject an enzyme that acts like an acid, liquifying soft tissues so that they can be sucked out.

That same enzyme is why wheel bug bites often cause quite a bit of damage, taking weeks or even months to heal. They aren't nearly as dangerous (potentially lethal) as snake bites, but they are far from pleasant.

On the plus side, they hunt stinkbugs. So it's not all bad.

Plus side? Now that the Chinese stink bugs have invaded by the trillions, that means more of their food source, which means the population of beak-stabbing, enzyme-injecting, flesh-liquifying wheel bugs will explode.

Just kill me now.

 

[capman98]

Plus side? Now that the Chinese stink bugs have invaded by the trillions, that means more of their food source, which means the population of beak-stabbing, enzyme-injecting, flesh-liquifying wheel bugs will explode.

Just kill me now.

hahaha. that made me laugh. I saw one of those stink bug killers in the shop last year, freaked me the F out. Almost grabed it accidently till I saw it at the last second. I have noticed barely any stink bugs at the house this year but have not seen any more of the killer bugs. Where o where did they go.......I really don't give a F.

 

[jpk1md]

Bugs from Starship troopers

Ok, NOW you're freakin' me out and I'm glad I live in NH where its too cold for those "Brain Bugs" they recently spotted in PG

 

[brighid]

Just one more nightmare to find in the yard, the velvet ant or better named cow killer ant. Apparently the sting hurts so bad it could kill a cow. They are wasps not ants, but either way I don't want to get stung. Before I knew of their hurtful nature I came across one in the garden and watched it for a bit. Now I run inside until it's safe.

 

[BondJamesBond]

One of my boys was cutting the grass around my "yard art" (old vehicles/junk pile)the other day. I see him stop and look at his forearm, rub it some, look at it again, and then just stares at it.

I walk over and he says "I think I got stung by a wasp", but there was a big, strange mark at the site: bunch of little dots, and general area raised up fast.

Then he says, "What is THIS thing?" and points at some critter on his shirt sleeve.

Looked like a cross between a slug and a stegasaurus. So flicked it off, and we took turns stomping and smearing it for a couple minutes.

Looked it up, and it was the catepillar for the "Puss moth"/Asp moth/Southern Flannel moth, most TOXIC caterpillar in MD.


40+ years ago, I only got the occasional wood tick, and I about LIVED in the woods. What's next???

Can't call them chiggers anymore. you have to call them Chigroes.

 

[Raven]

Those saddlebacks are nasty! have been stung by them before. I look real carefully before I reach into any kind of plant. And if you have ever been stung by a cow killer, you know where it got it's name! They are hard to kill too. They actually make a squealing noise when you try to squish them. They are good practice with an airgun if you can get them off the gravel.

 

[Billcw]

Can't call them chiggers anymore. you have to call them Chigroes.

no they are undocumented insects .

 

[Wojo]

If a thread ever needed to be locked and deleted it's this one... I hate you all. I am cutting the grass in a tyvek suit tomorrow!

 

[FrankOceanXray]

Merge this with the weight loss thread? I'm about to lose my lunch.

 

[28Shooter]

no they are undocumented insects .

I thought the stink bugs were the undocumented insects...d@mn, let's just call them what they are- illegal bugs and dump ice on them.

 

[eruby]

Can't call them chiggers anymore. you have to call them Chigroes.

After 10 minutes of laughing, I've composed myself enough to call you a racist hater. Expect a call from Sharpton.

Now I'm going to clean the bathroom with 'Spanish and Span'.