Photos of bugs and other things people might be phobic about

[Penfold]

Stunning looking bugs, does anyone know what they're called?

[Bouncy Castle]

Spider found living in woman's ear canal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/0 ... 61304.html

[Tonyblack]

Someone I knew on another site had a moth climb into their ear canal while they were asleep. The tickling made him wake up but unfortunately, although he got most of the moth out the head became detached and he had to have it surgically removed.

[Tonyblack]

Stunning looking bugs, does anyone know what they're called?

It looks a bit like the giant mesquite bug - although I have a feeling someone may have been playing with Photoshop. You need to ignore the colours and look at the shape of the thing.

[Tonyblack]

OK I found this picture on the Internet of the same insects, but no name given.



I'll see what else I can find.

[Tonyblack]

It seems I was partly right about the two types of insect. They are both of the same genus: Thasus. The more colourful one is the nymph of thasus acutangulus and seems to be found in Mexico and Central America. It is so colourful to advertise how bad it tastes.

See here

[jaznbonnie]

Thanks for finding that info, Tony. Or should we call you Jeeves?

[Tonyblack]

[Penfold]

You should be one of the panellists on Strangely Fascinating Tony. (And thank you for the answer to my question, btw. )

[Bouncy Castle]

Britain is in the grip of an ant invasion, it has been revealed.

Pest experts blame the extremely wet and warm July for a 64 per cent increase in call-outs to ant infestations.

Experts say a 'perfect storm' of weather conditions has led to an ant invasion across Britain

While July's combination of heavy showers and short spells of fine sunshine proved frustrating for sun-starved Brits, latest figures show it may have provided the ideal conditions for a far smaller part of the population to thrive.

Pest control experts, Rentokil, revealed that incidences of ant problems were almost two-thirds higher last month than in July 2001, with a 64 per cent increase in call-outs to treat infestations.

Both red ants and common black garden ants caused problems during July, not only outdoors but also inside and around the home, such as in cavity walls, under flag stones and patios.

An ant infestation can prove dangerous as ants can contaminate food and sterile areas.

Doctor Kate Turner, head of operational technical at Rentokil, said: 'The majority of black garden ants will only come in to your home to forage for food and are attracted by sweet and sticky substances.'

It is the second warning of an ant invasion this year.

Last month Britons had to deal with the annual swarming of flying ants.

The Society of Biology received hundreds of reports of flying ants ready to leave the nest, and is relying on members of the public to report sightings of ant mating flights.



I usually see loads of flying ants at a certain time of the year, but only about 1 or 2 this year.

[Penfold]

I haven't seen that many yet either.

[Dotsie]

We've got loads It might be the old pavements, with big old cracked slabs. There've been about 2 or 3 swarms of flying ants in our village so far.

[Catch-up]

Ant problems are not fun. I'd take them over those vile house centipedes we get though!

[jaznbonnie]

I think that there is a monumental ant colony under the entire Napa Valley but my husband found something that keeps the ants out of our home. It is orange oil, slightly diluted with water, that you spray around the perimeter of the area you want ant-free. It messes with their ability to communicate so they avoid that area but it isn't toxic so it won't hurt pets or people. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work for NoSeeEms and we have a plague of them this year.

[cheery_j.]

Someone I knew on another site had a moth climb into their ear canal while they were asleep. The tickling made him wake up but unfortunately, although he got most of the moth out the head became detached and he had to have it surgically removed.

One night during our holidays I was woken by a terrible noise in my ear. It sounded as if someone was tap dancing on my eardrum. At the same time I felt something moving in my ear - a bit like when you have water sloshing around in your ear. When I shook my head the noise stopped, then it started again. I went totally librarian poo and woke the bf calling "There's something in my ear!!! Do something!!!!!!" Says he - totally calm - "hmm, I could shine a flashlight in your ear, they (!!!!) usually crawl towards the light, don't they." I was torn between kicking him and running around shouting "There's something in my ear!! There's something in my ear!!" at the top of my voice until I collapsed. In the end I agreed to his plan, because I just wanted the noise to stop.
He shines the light into my ear, and after a second he says "Yupp, there's an ant coming out."