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Spiders and other phobias.

(55 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

pompa Sun 10-May-15 12:33:52

Me, hate spiders, won't kill then, so Mrs. P has to deal with them indorrs.

Falconbird Sun 10-May-15 12:38:02

My mum always used to say "if you want to live and thrive let a s-----r rub alive. uggggg.

Falconbird Sun 10-May-15 12:39:19

Meant "run alive, " got a bit spooked out.

AshTree Sun 10-May-15 14:04:39

Don't mind them that much, as long as they aren't about to run up my leg shock. If they're just running about on the floor/wall I'm quite happy to put a large tumbler over them, slide a piece of card underneath and take them outside.
But moths and crane flies? Now that's an entirely different story. When we were first married our house was on a new estate with fields at the back and to one side. Being in Essex, the surrounding countryside was flat and very open. We went out one late summer evening, leaving the hall and landing lights on, but forgot to close the landing window. Well, it was like a beacon to all the moths in around a 5 mile radius.

When we returned the house was alive with the things [shudder emoticon]. The only escape for me was the understairs cupboard, where I crouched, trembling, until my DH had dispatched them all to moth heaven. The following morning he hoovered them up - there was somewhere in the region of 50-70 of them shock. I've never made that mistake since!!

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

Could have been worse. Could have been bats. shock

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 14:09:56

shudder!!!!!

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!

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.

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!)

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.

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

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.

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 19:26:11

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 19:31:37

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 19:37:07

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 19:42:39

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

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.

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 .....

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!

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!

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.

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!