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Spiders and other phobias.

(56 Posts)
Falconbird Sun 10-May-15 12:13:52

Who's afraid of the above mentioned creatures. Don't want to have to type the word out again.

I lived in a house where next door had their attic cleared out and the "things" all came into our house. They were huge.shock

The last house I lived in had an enormous air raid shelter which we had pulled down, again the "things" decided to come into our house. They were absolutely enormous.shock

Luckily I now live in a new build apartment and haven't seen any of the above apart from two tiny ones - no problem. I quite like those speckled garden thingies. smile

rosequartz Mon 11-May-15 15:05:43

I put spiders outside as well, I am sure they plot the best way to get in again.
I rescue bees that come into the conservatory, put them on a flower outside but ants, flies and wasps get short shrift.

Mozzies love me too.

TriciaF Mon 11-May-15 14:45:01

I used to be scared of spiders as a child, but after learning about them at school began to take more interest in their behaviour. The best thing about them is that their webs trap mosquitoes. Which are the insects I fear most - I hate them. They always seem to home in on me, especially at night, you can hear that unmistakable buzz getting louder and louder shock
So now our ceilings are garlanded with cobwebs.

pompa Mon 11-May-15 13:36:06

SORRY FOR SLUGS !!!!!!!! can I send you mine Falconbird ? PM me your address and I will send a crate over.

Falconbird Mon 11-May-15 13:33:20

I always feel sorry for slugs because they are so ugly and slimey but vulnerable because they don't have a shell.

I have no horror of any living creature except spiders (arggggg).

I used to catch them on a feather duster and then throw the duster through the window - retrieving it hours later when hopefully the above thing had wandered off.

lefthanded Mon 11-May-15 10:48:27

Not wishing to hijack the OP's thread, but on the subject of bats you might be interested to know that where the M4 passes through rural areas in south and west Wales, a number of artificial "caves" were built under it with rough concrete walls to encourage bats to roost there.

The project was successful and if you travel along the M4 particularly around Kenfig at dusk you will often see bats swirling around.

AshTree Mon 11-May-15 10:17:47

Grandma2213 you are commendably imperturbable! I have to agree with you about slugs, particularly as they invade our kitchen in the summer and leave trails on the floor and cupboards. Utterly disgusting creatures and I get thoroughly sick and tired of repeatedly disinfecting everywhere. I have yet to find a solution to this problem - have tried leaving a line of salt all around the outside of the kitchen, but it doesn't stop them, and just leaves a mess that I have to eventually clear up. Any ideas G'netters? I'd be eternally grateful!

rosequartz Mon 11-May-15 09:26:42

If confronted with a snake I would be truly terrified - advice is to back away very very slowly, or wait for it to go on its way, don't turn and run.
Easier said than done.

Grandma2213 Mon 11-May-15 02:30:48

I once had a nursery roost of pipistrelle bats in my roof and sat out in the garden with a glass of wine counting them as they flew out each evening, for the records of the Bat Society. They are, of course a protected species. It was very pleasant and I counted up to 160 bats at one time. Interesting and cute little mammals and yes a few got into the house but easily escaped with lights out, windows open and without any mess.
Spiders don't bother me as they cut down on flies and their webs are works of art!
Mice - not a problem to me now though in another house had to be got rid of as they ran over work tops and broke into the budgie's seed tin! mucky little creatures.
Daddy Long Legs or crane flies annoying but ridiculous design faults - flapping about uncontrollably and legs which drop off at one swipe You can't help but feel sorry for them!
Moths again annoying fluttering but it amazes me how they often match the colours in the room.
SLUGS on the other hand are DISGUSTING, SLIMY and USELESS, the only creature that evokes the killing instinct in me!

Nvella Mon 11-May-15 00:18:27

Hate mice and if I ever had a rat in the house I would have to move - also hate bats as they are more mobile rodents. Spiders don't worry me at all!

Marmight Sun 10-May-15 22:36:43

I don't mind spiders. I just pick them up and take them outside. However, if I came across a mouse or a rat you wouldn't see me for dust .....

Mishap Sun 10-May-15 22:05:23

My DD was (probably still is) phobic about spiders. We had a visitor round one day when she was in her teens and all of a sudden blood-curdling yells emanated from upstairs. The visitor was most disturbed that we did not bat an eyelid - we were so used to these outbursts every time the tiniest spider put in an appearance.

loopylou Sun 10-May-15 19:42:39

I know...........
It's a pretty bug though smile

rosequartz Sun 10-May-15 19:37:07

I have only seen May bugs on the ground!
loopylou watch out - it's May!

The one I saw was a Christmas beetle (although it wasn't Christmas)
Don't look if you have a phobia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_beetle

loopylou Sun 10-May-15 19:31:37

DH has just said it was a May bug........

I'd have done the same rosequartz! If it's too big to swat then I'm off grin
One reason why I couldn't live anywhere with bigger bugs than GB! Snakes don't bother me but bugs.......

rosequartz Sun 10-May-15 19:26:11

loopylou how awful.

A bright yellow, very large flying beetle sent me hurtling indoors in Australia to the amusement of my Aussie rellies!

loopylou Sun 10-May-15 19:11:53

Me too.
Only one thing worse - a cockchafer.
The only time I've ever been hysterical was having one caught up in my hair, it still makes my stomach heave thinking about it.

rosequartz Sun 10-May-15 19:11:43

Crane flies have me diving for cover!

I was bitten by a spider in Australia.
And I have seen a couple that have been as big as dinner plates - no! they were bigger.

It's the smaller ones that are venomous.

AshTree Sun 10-May-15 19:06:32

It's the way crane flies sort of hover and dip unpredictably in the air, and the horrible buzzing noise they make as they touch against any surface....yuk! I don't have the age old worry of bats getting caught in my hair, but that is exactly what I fear from crane flies shock

ninathenana Sun 10-May-15 18:35:29

Spiders have to be seen to be disposed of. Moths, I won't share a room with, hate bats too. Crane flies don't bother me at all.

loopylou Sun 10-May-15 17:35:28

I hate them almost more than spiders.....it's the way their legs fall off envy
Bats don't bother me at all

I'm claustrophobic and hate heights-I can't even stand on the table (pathetic or what!)

Falconbird Sun 10-May-15 17:29:53

I don't mind Crane Flys at all which is strange because they are a bit like flying spiders smile.

We call them Horse Flys or Daddy Long Legs mostly but Crane Flys sometimes.

AshTree Sun 10-May-15 14:20:31

My brother had a bat loose in his house once many years ago. He didn't know anything about bats, whether they were verminous or vicious, so didn't fancy trying to catch it with his bare (or even gloved!) hands. So he made a rather Heath Robinson bat catcher out of a broomstick, large plastic carrier, string and wire coat hanger. It worked, amazingly!

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 10-May-15 14:09:56

shudder!!!!!

pompa Sun 10-May-15 14:09:18

I'd love to get bats nesting in the shed (not the house, they make a lot of mess)

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 10-May-15 14:06:33

Could have been worse. Could have been bats. shock