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The specific mamushi that Zaz mentioned that I came across is in this album.
http://www.uer.ca/...=32384&galid=34180
It's a bit blurry but I was terrified as it was about 1 meter from me. It was the second mamushi I ever saw. The other was on a nearby mountain while on a camping trip.
A few months later, at the location, visiting with Zen_Compass, we came across a keelback.
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Posted by ryanpics
I was at an old motel and there was a mountain lion hiding in the bushes. I started walking up a brushy path, it hissed, and I ran away as fast as I could and left.
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I'm really happy that worked for you, especially because it's the opposite of what experts say to do.
The #1 rule about poking things with sticks is never use your finger. |
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Posted by corvidcache
I'm really happy that worked for you, especially because it's the opposite of what experts say to do.
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Yeah, never do that; back slowly away and do not turn your back in case they do attack.
They go for the neck/cervical spine.
Running triggers their hard wired prey response to attack.
Chillin' with another rattler on the asphalt.
A migrating ball of Africanized bees, the queen is in the center.
The rattler in my previous post where I first found it taking a defensive posture.
The rattlers #1 enemy other than man in W Texas, the road runner. Intensely curious and territorial as well as intelligent. This one is checking me out in my van. I was in -his- parking lot and he's investigating. Fun and funny as hell to watch.
Many times they claim little used stretches of road their own and become concerned if you trespass.
[last edit 2/24/2019 2:12 AM by blackhawk - edited 2 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Watch out for these guys.
They can trip speed cameras and you get the ticket because they don't have a license plate on their butt.
In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind. |
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snakes > spiders
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/xlookex/
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There's a reason I always wear gloves when exploring, and that reason is spiders.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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Posted by Aran
There's a reason I always wear gloves when exploring, and that reason is spiders.
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Too bad the spiders can't wear gloves.
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I've only ever found this (Torrubiella pulvinata, or "spider mold") at abandonments.
The #1 rule about poking things with sticks is never use your finger. |
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Posted by corvidcache
Too bad the spiders can't wear gloves.
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I've only ever found this (Torrubiella pulvinata, or "spider mold") at abandonments.
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That stuff is mold? I've been wondering about that since I first saw it over a year ago. Thanks for the ID.
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Posted by The Juge
The specific mamushi that Zaz mentioned that I came across is in this album.
http://www.uer.ca/...=32384&galid=34180
It's a bit blurry but I was terrified as it was about 1 meter from me. It was the second mamushi I ever saw. The other was on a nearby mountain while on a camping trip.
A few months later, at the location, visiting with Zen_Compass, we came across a keelback.
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Here's the specific photo. That snake is a cutie.
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Posted by EnvoyToTheMolePeople
That stuff is mold? I've been wondering about that since I first saw it over a year ago. Thanks for the ID.
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Yes, it kills the spider.
The #1 rule about poking things with sticks is never use your finger. |
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Posted by corvidcache
Yes, it kills the spider.
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Wow, So do the mold spores land on the spider and start the process? How does this happen?
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Children of the night are creepy and big...
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by blackhawk
Children of the night are creepy and big...
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That's a Jerusalem cricket they will bite the shit out of you if you try to pick them up.
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Posted by 2Xplorations
That's a Jerusalem cricket they will bite the shit out of you if you try to pick them up.
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Yeah they are strong. You can hear them going through the desert grass at night from 6 to 10 feet away.
They are omnivorous and have a sweet tooth for chocolate cupcakes; they can smell from a couple feet away.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by zaz3494
Wow, So do the mold spores land on the spider and start the process? How does this happen?
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That's exactly what happens. Spore lands on spider, mold starts growing, spider slowly dies.
The #1 rule about poking things with sticks is never use your finger. |
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Posted by blackhawk
They are omnivorous and have a sweet tooth for chocolate cupcakes; they can smell from a couple feet away.
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I take it you know this from personal experience? I've only ever had my cupcakes stolen by squirrels. Okay that's a lie; it was a muffin. I turned my back, and poof!
Anyway, I think Jerusalem crickets are kinda cute as long as they don't have the chance to uh, defend themselves from me. Sticking with my apparent theme, they can also fall victim to other life forms hoping to reproduce with a host.
Example of a Jerusalem cricket overtaken by an unknown pathogen:
https://www.youtub...atch?v=ymgtb6V9ZR4
***If you're considering not clicking that link, I highly suggest you reconsider, for lols.
Most sick insects (and arachnids) are ailed by things that don't affect humans, but it's always an interesting process to observe. On the other hand, some things that don't kill their hosts can really fuck us up. Kissing bugs haven't been mentioned here yet. The insects are from the Triatoma genus, and they may carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi causes Chagas disease in humans and sometimes domestic animals; a dog may become ill after eating kissing bug. Human exposure to T. cruzi is caused by a bite from a kissing bug. They're nocturnal, and usually bite around a person's eyes or mouth. Some people get swollen and itchy from the bite, others don't. It depends on how sensitive/allergic you are to the insect's saliva, just like with most bug bites. Chagas disease can start with a fever and rash, but if left untreated, ends in congestive heart failure. An estimated 50% of Triatoma bugs in the United States are parasitized by T. cruzi, so even though a bite doesn't guarantee exposure or infection, pay careful attention to your body afterward if you think you've been bitten, and see a doctor if you become symptomatic. The T. cruzi parasite is found from the southern U.S., most notably in Texas and its neighbor states, down into South America. Staying inside at night is the best way to avoid kissing bugs.
The #1 rule about poking things with sticks is never use your finger. |
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Kissing bugs you say?
The one critter I fear or rather the chagas parasite they carry.
Seen over a dozen of them so far in Texas.
They are blood drinking parasites of warm blooded animals including man.
This is an assassin or wheel bug. These are harmless and beneficial.
The kissing bug looks almost identical except it doesn't have the wheel thing on it's back. Both can fly.
Had dozens of assassin bugs in my thai pepper garden for years. Great bug killers.
[last edit 2/27/2019 11:30 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by blackhawk
Children of the night are creepy and big...
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Potato Bugs! First time I saw one I was 15 and it was after a day of rain. Scared the hell out of me, my 15 year old brain thought it was a giant mutated ant that mated with a wasp.
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Posted by zaz3494
Potato Bugs! First time I saw one I was 15 and it was after a day of rain. Scared the hell out of me, my 15 year old brain thought it was a giant mutated ant that mated with a wasp.
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Are you trying to convince me it's not?
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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Jumping spiders are cool. You can tell they are watching your every movement.
Get too close and sometimes they'll jump right on you!
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Ethics
