So most bugs I don’t worry about. Spiders, ants, wasps, scorpions, none of them really bother me.

Last week we were talking about Fleseatingvirus’s chicken that ate a centipede. Well, one of those nasty mofos came in my house. 8:30 Sunday morning, headed to Home Depot, and this little shit was chillin on the garage floor. I didn’t have any bug killer, so I grabbed a can of acetone and doused him. It didn’t kill him. I ended up putting a bucket over him and hosed him with bug spray when I returned from Home Depot.

I really hate centipedes.

Personal hatred aside I keep seeing that those are actually beneficial as they are vicious predators and kill just about every other insect in your home.

Those pics are . Can't say you didn't warn a feller though.

Mor’ chikens’

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
Personal hatred aside I keep seeing that those are actually beneficial as they are vicious predators and kill just about every other insect in your home.

There will be no more insects in my home. While at Home Depot, I picked up a really nice USA made Dewalt sprayer. I stopped at Tractor Supply and picked up a bottle of Bifenthrin concentrate. Sprayed the interior just like Conn Pest used to do. Sprayed the exterior pretty liberally.
Since it rained a lot this week, once the rain is out of the forecast, I’ll hit the exterior again.

I was getting the pest control guy to stop by from time to time, but they are too busy, unless you are in their regular contracted annual service.

I spent $80 on a sprayer and the bifen, and have enough to treat my house for a damn long time.

Looks like you need a bit of poultry in your life…

I had a cousin who lived back in the woods in the 1960's. He said he woke up to an uncomfortable pain on his earlobe. He pulled one of these little devils off of his earlobe and smashed it.

I asked why such a panic response and he said it reminded him of a miniature version of "The Tingler" from that famous horror film off the 1950's. I have to admit their shape and color tend to make them VERY EVIL!

Any particular reason a size 11 shoe and 200 pounds of weight above it wouldn't work?

This is why, when camping, you need to shake out your shoes before putting them on.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
This is why, when camping, you need to shake out your shoes before putting them on.

When camping, heck. If you live in the desert, you shake them out every morning before donning.

Jesus, man! You have “people” (or shall I say chickens aka nyx). Ship that bird over and point her in the right direction.
Beneficial or not, I just couldn’t let that thing live in my home…

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
I really hate centipedes.

The Giant Desert Centipede.
 
I have learned that in the desert we have a "Giant" version of just about every bug/arachnid.
 
The Giant Root Borer:
 

 
 
The Giant Hairy Scorpion:
 

 
I gave that critter to a neighbor who teaches elementary school. Her class posed it in its normal state, and it was declared the "Hassayampa Elementary Bug of the Day".
 

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Any particular reason a size 11 shoe and 200 pounds of weight above it wouldn't work?

Because it’s 9” long and fast as fuck. If I catch half under the shoe, the other half can twist and get in the shoe. The legs could easily pierce my shoe. Those little legs will bury themselves deep in anything when provoked.

Henry, I had one of those scorpions a few weeks ago. He was pretty cool. He spent a few days in the glass, and I took him a ways away and turned him loose.

Years ago my bride killed one of those big centipedes in the living room with the little shovel from the fireplace tools. Made me pretty proud of her.

When we lived in southern Yavapai County, not far from henryaz, I got up one night and walked out into the kitchen in the dark. I stepped on one of those centipedes and it stung me on the top of the foot. That hurt like fire! To make matters worse, the bastard scurried under the stove and got away.

quote:

It has been said, and truly, that everything in the desert either stings, stabs, stinks, or sticks. You will find the flora here as venomous, hooked, barbed, thorny, prickly, needled, saw-toothed, hairy, stickered, mean, bitter, sharp, wiry, and fierce as the animals.
- Edward Abbey

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Any particular reason a size 11 shoe and 200 pounds of weight above it wouldn't work?

Because it’s 9” long and fast as fuck. If I catch half under the shoe, the other half can twist and get in the shoe. The legs could easily pierce my shoe. Those little legs will bury themselves deep in anything when provoked.

I'd be going after it with a 12ga then. Sheesh, our centipedes are maybe an inch long and harmless.

The bark scorpions in AZ glow bright green under a black light and you can see them from 50' away. I killed 10 in the backyard last night, been averaging 7-8 per night recently. I use a torch and black light. Very satisfying. I've been stung in the house three times and I'd make those fuckers talk first if I could, that's how much I hate them. Spraying has done nothing. Trying to get rid of the crickets they feed on by setting glue traps in corners. That tends to work pretty well.

Be thankful you didn't live in the Carboniferous period (~360-300 million years ago). Then there were centipedes that were over 8ft long.



Google 'arthropleura' (or not).