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Post by srkdrfaust on Jul 12, 2012 20:32:04 GMT -8
I want to say I love bugs. I love all of them, wither there cute, pretty, scary, or just plain cool. The only issue I have is that i'm scared to hold them. I think the main issue is that bugs are so wild and random. I don't know when the bug is gonna fly in my face or crawl over my body( unwanted ). Does any one understand where I'm coming form or have any advice.
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rjb
Full Member
Posts: 187
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Post by rjb on Jul 14, 2012 5:53:34 GMT -8
It's sensible to be scared of insects if you don't know a lot about them. Their habits seem random and strange until you spend enough time with them to understand and predict their behavior. Lots of insects have defense mechanisms like biting or stinging. Until you know them well enough, you might get stung because the insect can't tell that you have noble intentions as you hold it. I have been bitten and stung many times, especially when I was young. Now as I grab a tiger beetle and hold it badly I say, "dang this one is going to bite me ... Ow!"
When you have handled enough of them, you will know how to avoid scaring them and they won't scare you.
Rick
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Post by bluemoth on Jul 14, 2012 14:25:10 GMT -8
Yes I do know ware you are coming from. I once found a new kind of beetle in my yard. I was a little afraid of picking it up even though all my life I have held many kinds of critters. I was not shure if it would bite or spray a foul smelling stuff at me. Well it turned out to be harmless. Just in genrat You do not need to fear moths and butterflies. They may fly in your face near an out door light or tickle the heck out of you if one flies under your shirt. They do not bite or sting. Most beetles can be held with no harm. But some bite or spry fowl smeling stuff. Just read about them and learn how to handle them safely.
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Post by missourimothhunter on Oct 5, 2012 19:10:05 GMT -8
I am not a beetle collector. But I have had some
encounters with odd bugs, as I set out my lights
and set out my sheet to collect moths at night.
I have been stung by blister beetles couple times.
As I crouched over the sheet scanning the moths,
of course there are hundreds of tiny and a few
large bugs of all kinds. It's hot Summer and they
are flying almost swarming to the mercury vapor
light. Occasionally a small bug of some kind flies
below my chin and down into my shirt. Without
thinking I just shake em out. If I feel something
really moving, I suppose that I 'slap my chest'
to stun and remove whatever bug is under my shirt.
When I got home that evening and took a shower,
I was stunned to see as I ran my hand across my
chest...my skin was MELTING...or felt that way. This was
from a Blister Beetle and there was NO pain or even
sensation, neither when it 'oozed on me' and neither
any pain later, as it set a (half dollar sized) blister.
At first I thought some bad spider had bitten me and
I would soon have a rotted flesh hole in me, there,
and many trips to the hospital. Then I realized: No this
is where some Blister Beetle 'got me' and it took a few
hours to first raise a blister..and that blister to then
open up and show irritation. The blister was large and
looked like 'a work blister on the palms of your hand'.
But it had no pain whatsoever. It looked scary red, then
it stayed with me for a week before healing. For a day
I thought 'it would sink in' and really do damage to my
body. But no. After a year, it had faded then to a dim
pink spot on my hide. Glad I did not have the blister
beetle get me on my face.
I had only dimly heard of 'blister beetles' before, but
now I have a great respect for their ability to do grief.
I wonder if any of you genuine Beetle Collectors has
any such odd encounters with bugs?
I collect Moths in southern Missouri, eastern Kansas
and eastern Oklahoma.
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