Jul 4, 2007

Unholy Beast

Melanie emailed me a request for a potato bug post. And I aim to please.

Say hello to our new resident Jerusalem cricket. How can the name of the holy city be given to such an unholy beast? I've encountered these things before, and I'll never be the same.

I normally thank those who send me requests. But in this case, Melanie, I can't. I'll be having nightmares thanks to you.


Photo source: Colin Brown

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I could love-up that little horseshoe bat but if I ran into one of these bugs I'd have to be sedated and institutionalized. The link is great (I found it months ago). The potato bug stories give me major willies and the e-cards are hysterical.

Anonymous said...

they are awful...when my little brother was around 2 and playing in the backyard. i went to check on him and he had a HALF a potato bug in his hand. you can guess where the other half was...oh, in case you can't guess...it was in his MOUTH! and i had to get it out!!! those are psychological scars people. on me, he doesn't even remember it.

Anonymous said...

NO NO NO!!!! IN HIS MOUTH???!!! I'll bet it was still moving!!! GAAHHHH!!!!!! Goosebumps for the rest of the day....

Anonymous said...

Jodie, when my daughter was about 18 months old she came to me with a big smile on her face. "Mama, itsy-bitsy spider all gone!", she said. I looked closely and could see a couple spider legs glued to the drool running down her chin...

Raging Wombat said...

Jodie, that is an awful story. And I have no doubt I'll experience the same thing with my own kids. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

ROFL kritter... that's hilarious.. yet frightening... but more hilarious hehehe

Anonymous said...

it was both hilarious AND frightening. i don't recall the half in his mouth moving - but the half in his hand was still moving. sorry for the goosebumps y'all. but i LIVED it! teehee. yuck on the spider legs too! and, raging wombat, i'm sure you will. just. know that you are not alone. teeheehee!

Jaya said...

We get these things every summer here in Northern New Mexico where I live.

A couple of summers ago I captured several and mailed them off to some bug guy in California who is doing research on them. He said they arrived safely. They certainly DO creep people out though.

Around here they are called 'children of the earth'.