Seven years ago, when I was fresh faced girl-child straight out of Laguna Beach, the thought of something that looked like this:
would have sent shivers down my spine.
Actually seeing one crawling across my baby’s carpet? Would have sent me screaming from the room, possibly the entire house. I probably would have danced around on the porch for a while randomly wiping at my arms and legs hoping to dispel the creepy, crawly feeling.
Instead of doing that, I froze in mid-step and considered my actions before tossing out a low growl of “Holy fuck.” My options were thus: run screaming from the room and ignore it or run screaming from the room and grab a coffee cup from the cabinet to capture the monstrosity. Because I am so very mature, I chose option number two.
I did stand as absolutely far away as possible when tossing the coffee mug over the bug. Then I slipped a piece of cardboard under it and scooped it up. I covered my mug with plastic wrap to save it for the husband. I figured he could tell me what it was and why it was crawling through MY HOUSE. He couldn’t and he didn’t. Then I went out on the porch and swiped at my arms and legs to dispel the creepy, crawly feeling. I’m more mature these days, but it only goes so far. That is one big, nasty bug.
Do you see the hooks on his feet? The GIANT butt? THE EYES? ACK.
It took me two days to work up the nerve to search the internets for the answer. I knew it was going involve looking at far too many pictures of bugs for comfort. Luckily it was a quick search, I only had to go outside and try not to throw up once. It’s a Jerusalem Cricket. As for why it was in Little’s room? I have no idea. Maybe we picked it up from camping and it stowed itself in the inflatable bed we store in his closet? I don’t know. Truthfully, I don’t want to know. If there are more of these guys hiding in my house? Let them stay hidden.
Please- let them stay hidden.
I would have had to burn the house down. Good for you.
Lyndsay´s last blog ..Just write Just right
The thought did cross my mind. But then I would be displacing all the bats in my attic. Poor little bats.
I am amazed at your calm and maturity. You actually captured the said insect and removed it from the room! I would have grabbed a heavy object and whacked it (while screaming loudly) until I had bug guts smashed all over the carpet!
I am in awe of your clear headed thinking!
Actually, the bigger the bug, the less likely I am to squish it. I don’t know why, but big spiders and bugs seem impossible to squish. Scooping and depositing outside is more manageable. I think it’s the prospect of them not being squished with the first whack. (Or of them grabbing my weapon and turning it on me?) Maybe it’s because of all the mess that would occur if I did actually kill it. I don’t know. I just know that I can’t kill big things. I’m a wimp.
That’s a big disgusting bug alright!
I’m with lyndsay. I don’t think I could go inside again -forget about trying to catch it. Glad it was your house and not mine.
Ha! After bats, scorpions and desert recluse spiders in my house? This almost seems normal.
I would have slipped a glass over it and taken pictures for my blog while it was trapped. Did that with some huge beetle with pincher jaws that was crawling across the carpet. But um .. I would be all jumpy and grossed out while I did it. E-E-E-e-e-w-w-w-w!!!
I totally did the jumpy dance after I scooped it up. Complete with a little girl squeal.
I have mixed emotions about these bugs. On the one hand (and especially with those photos) they are really exquisite and fascinating insects. On the other hand they are creepy as hell and kind of super massive. Their human faces are disturbing, and the fact that they live underground remind me of a horror film. They are called Ninos de la Tierra in Mexico which is fitting, I think.
The good news is that while they are native here, I’ve only ever seen maybe 3 in my whole life. So I think you’re good for the next ten years at least.
My local friends call the Baby Bugs. Apparently they are common here. I’ve just never seen one. I really think it’s the human face that scares the crap out of me.
Dude. A boot. I am awful.
Could you imagine the squish that would occur? There would be bug guts EVERYWHERE. Ick.
Smash it. Loudly. Then announce to the entire house that this was a warning to all other hidden bugs. it actually works for a bit.
The Children of the Earth that they grow in NM have great big old HUMAN looking eyes. Big old NASTY lookin’ things. Bleahhhhhhhh!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
At least it doesn’t seem mean…or is it?