rss-icon facebook-icon twitter-icon pinterest-icon google-plus-icon

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Update: For You Curious Types

WARNING: Just for you, Jennster....the following post may be hazardous to your mental stability!

My last post showed a few pictures of some creepy little dudes. Many of you wanted to know what the HELL they were. So, here is a short Entomology lesson. (And no, I am not that smart, I did just Google, "study of insects" to find the proper terminology.)
"As per Wikipedia: The Rhaphidophoridae or Cave crickets have very large hind legs with "drumstick-shaped" femora and long, slender antennae. They are brownish in color and rather humpbacked in appearance, always wingless, and up to two inches/5 cm long in body and 10 cm (4 inches) for the legs. As the name implies, cave crickets are commonly found in caves. Occasionally, they prove to be a nuisance in the basements of homes in suburban areas."
Nuisance really isn't the word for it, especially a few years ago when the mo' fo's nested in our crawl space's insulation. We were INFESTED with them. Every time I went into my downstairs bathroom, I quite literally got the shit scared out of me. I'd be sitting there, minding my own business, and one would come jumping AT ME!
"Given their limited vision, cave crickets will often jump towards any perceived threat in an attempt to frighten it away. Their large hind legs allow them to jump high and far."
Not only that, but they are extremely fast. They can jump and land sideways on things so its very easy to lose sight of them. I find the best way to deal with them is to whip a towel at them, like you would to crack someone in the butt. Works like a charm.
"To avoid starvation, they have been known to devour their own extremities, even though they cannot regenerate limbs."
Okay, that's just plain disgusting and a whole lot of freaky.
"Their long legs have caused them to be more commonly referred to as "sprickets" or "spickets", a blending of "spiders" (whose legs they resemble) and "crickets"."
That's exactly what they look like. It's as though a spider and cricket DID IT. That's probably why I get so frantic when I see one. A big old spider looking thing that JUMPS AT YOU while you are sitting on the john is enough to scare the Bejeezus out of anyone.

So there you have it. The answer you craved. Now, Jennster? Are you ready?

Wait for it............



SHIVER!!

11 comments:

Jill said...

I freaking hate bugs so much. I live in fear of an infestation of some sort. Please no more bug posts! :-)

amelia bedelia said...

they eat their own extrimities...ewww.

The Fritz Facts said...

That is just plain gross. They eat themselves...gives a whole new meaning to that phrase.

Nasty!

krystina said...

so that's what they're called!! we had this one house, when i was a kid, that the first level had walls built out of the bricks with designs in them, and the back part of the level was what we called the bat cave... those things lived with the bats. they are so creepy *shivers*

Patois42 said...

I'm going to be sick now.

Laski said...

I had to come and visit. I just had to see what this was all about.

And now I have to TRY to go to bed.

Great. . .

Momo Fali said...

I would probably pass out...right there on the toilet.

Unknown said...

I do not like anything about this post. It gives me goosebumps and makes me want to scream.

I have to go shower now. You jerk.

I still love you though.

Laura Marchant said...

Ack! Don't show BG this post she would flip, lol

Anonymous said...

I think he's cute, in a buggish-sort of way, really. No. Not really. Now I'm all itchy, thanks!

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

I don't care what they are....bugs! Aaaaaaaaaaggh!

Oh...sorry. Was that scream too loud?

Ahem....aaaaaggh....but I still hate bugs and all their legs and eeeew!

I know. I'm such a girl! :-)