# Terrifying insect experience **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112 "2004-05-02T05:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/1 "2004-05-02T05:06:33Z")
I’m not usually afraid of insect, but I had something happen last week that scared the crap out of me. I was walking home from work when I saw a little sparrow lying in the grass beside the sidewalk. As I came up closer I could see that his chest was still moving. He was still alive! Maybe I could save him! I snatched him up to see if he was ok. Instantly a pile of maggots streaked with blood and yellow goo blorped out of his chest all over my hand. He hadn’t been breathing; it was the combined movement of the maggots that made it look like that. I shrieked and tossed the bird and his buddies across the road, wiped my hand on the grass, stuck it in a puddle, and wiped it on the grass again. When I got home I got out the antibacterial soap and washed my hands about 10 times, but I still feel ooky and crawly. If I see any other animals lying around, I’ll be sure to poke them with a stick first. :eek: I hope nobody else has had to endure that kind of thing. I’m ok with most buggy things, but I **Cannot handle maggots.** ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/2 "2004-05-02T05:42:34Z")
My class visited a local cemetery once (we had to study/do something with the tombstones, I think) and I picked up a bird with a missing head. I’ve always wondered, how the heck did it lose only its head? I’m sure a cat or whatever would be equally interested in the rest of the bird’s body for eating. I’ve actually seen a couple birds like that before. Do their heads fall off or something? ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/3 "2004-05-02T05:56:54Z")
> [@Vision of Love](#): > > My class visited a local cemetery once (we had to study/do something with the tombstones, I think) and I picked up a bird with a missing head. > > I’ve always wondered, how the heck did it lose only its head? I’m sure a cat or whatever would be equally interested in the rest of the bird’s body for eating. I’ve actually seen a couple birds like that before. Do their heads fall off or something? Yeek. Well, there are always wacko wannabe vampires/Satanists/assorted dark lords etc. out there that will go and perform “sacrifices” in cemeteries. Did the bird’s head looked chewed on or was it a clean removal? ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/4 "2004-05-02T07:55:40Z")
I don’t really remember. I picked it up by the tail and didn’t hold it long enough for me to look under it to see its neck. If a person was responsible for that, then that’s really disturbing. I can’t imagine how a person would’ve caught it though. It was a grown bird, surely beyond “flying age.” ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/5 "2004-05-02T08:05:14Z")
Heh. I just now finished watching _Leviathan_. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/6 "2004-05-02T10:23:35Z")
> [@Vision of Love](#): > > My class visited a local cemetery once (we had to study/do something with the tombstones, I think) and I picked up a bird with a missing head. > > I’ve always wondered, how the heck did it lose only its head? I’m sure a cat or whatever would be equally interested in the rest of the bird’s body for eating. I’ve actually seen a couple birds like that before. Do their heads fall off or something? Sometimes cats, for reasons of their own, will take trophies. I’ve occasionally been the recipient of a bird head myself. This is just another reason why my current cats are INDOOR ONLY cats. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/7 "2004-05-02T11:29:44Z")
Ok not my terrifying bug encounter, but my child’s, happened about an hour ago. It didn’t terrify me but it did make the child jump (hehe…I’m so mean). I was on the couch and the child was on the beanbag, we were both fixated by the TV (NZ Idol…yes it has spread). Out the corner of my eye I saw a spider lowering herself down her web…Estimated Destination, right on the child’s head. “Hey Callum, there is a spider about to land on you” I announce. Child leaps up squealing (while pretending not to), the spider takes fright and runs straight back up it’s thread into the legs of a very aggressive/hungry/cranky Daddy long legs. Child and I both watch the poor lil spider being bound up in web. I felt bad cause I like spiders and that one had no hope…and because the child made me inspect his room for all 8 legged mates before bed. Child felt bad as he pretended spiders don’t bother him. Poor lil spider ☹ Worst ever insect moment was putting my foot in a gumboot that a weta had made a home in. I love bugs but Wetas’s make me squeal. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/8 "2004-05-02T15:37:37Z")
Okay, I’ll bite. What’s a weta? We don’t have them here in Florida. Just flying cockroaches. :shudder: (and mosquitos, and noseeums, and lake flies, and slugs, and…) ---
**Author:** ![woodstock989](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@woodstock989](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstock989)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/9 "2004-05-02T15:41:42Z")
> [@](#): > > What’s a weta? Think mutant grasshopper…nasty. ---
**Author:** ![woodstock989](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@woodstock989](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstock989)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/10 "2004-05-02T15:45:26Z")
**Ivylass** : [Weta Bug](http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biodiversity/invertebratesprog/invertid/bug_details.asp?Bu_Id=81) ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/11 "2004-05-02T16:48:25Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Worst ever insect moment was putting my foot in a gumboot that a weta had made a home in. I love bugs but Wetas’s make me squeal. Eu. I’ve seen Wetas. Harmless aren’t they? Just big and nasty looking? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/12 "2004-05-02T18:23:39Z")
> [@Satyricon](#): > > Eu. I’ve seen Wetas. Harmless aren’t they? Just big and nasty looking? Well ummmm they can sting…ok they they are mostly harmless but did you look at that link! I like bugs but they frighten the poop out of me! (thanks for the link **woodstock** ) ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/13 "2004-05-02T19:55:23Z")
I hate bugs. Of all types, sizes, and shapes. I live in the desert. Monsoon season (July, August, and early September) are very bad times for me. The tarantulas and palo verde beetles come out bigtime. Most everyone knows what a tarantula looks like. Palo verde bettles are horrendous-looking creatures. I couldn’t find a site, but if you’ve ever seen one, you’re not soon to forget it. They’re like GIANT cockroaches. Like the size of your hand!! And they \ come into your house! Through the drains. In my last house you had to walk all the way through the kitchen to turn the light on. I would arm myself with a broom every time… OOOh I hate Palo Verde beetles!! And then there are scorpions… YIKES! ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/14 "2004-05-02T23:12:02Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > the spider takes fright and runs straight back up it’s thread into the legs of a very aggressive/hungry/cranky Daddy long legs. > > Child and I both watch the poor lil spider being bound up in web. > > I felt bad cause I like spiders and that one had no hope Not trying to be pedantic or anything, but how can a Daddy Long Legs eat a spider? Unless a ‘Daddy Long Legs’ means something different in NZ? In the UK it refers to a flying insect with long legs, but it doesn’t make webs and to my knowledge does not prey on spiders. (As far as I’m concerned anything that attacks spiders deserves a bottle of champagne, but that’s another story) ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/15 "2004-05-02T23:51:41Z")
> [@mrsface](#): > > Not trying to be pedantic or anything, but how can a Daddy Long Legs eat a spider? Unless a ‘Daddy Long Legs’ means something different in NZ? In the UK it refers to a flying insect with long legs, but it doesn’t make webs and to my knowledge does not prey on spiders. > > (As far as I’m concerned anything that attacks spiders deserves a bottle of champagne, but that’s another story) In Canada (where I am) and many other areas a “daddy long legs” is a type of spider an inch to 2 inches in diameter, with a small tan oval body and hair-thin legs that are about 2-2 1/2 inches long. There’s a good picture of one here: [http://www.pbase.com/image/408080](http://www.pbase.com/image/408080) They don’t live in webs, they’re wandering hunters, and will eat other spiders and bugs. they do spin silk to wrap food and for nests, though. They’re ugly buggers, but harmless to people. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/16 "2004-05-02T23:52:23Z")
Way back in my youth, I was a Girl Scout, like many of us. The local camp had these sort of semi-cabins; they had roofs and floors with canvas sides. The local daddy longlegs liked to congregate on the inside of the roofs of said tentlike shelters. In clumps. HUGE clumps. HUGE HAIRY CLUMPS. We’re talking more daddy longlegs than should exist in the entire world, in clumps on the roof of a structure we were expected to SLEEP IN. Our poor leaders – including my mom – had to go in with brooms and sweep the clumps out after we arrived and, after seeing the clumps, often refuse to go in again until said clumps were gone. Even so, every now and again in the middle of the night, there would be this horrible tickle across your face…EEEEEEK! ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/17 "2004-05-02T23:59:10Z")
I was out at my mothers house about 3 weeks ago, cleaning out the rain gutters. Apparently the week before it had a rained alot and she stated that the rain was dripping off the edges of the roof and not out of drainage pipe. So I climbed up there and cleaned all the leaves off of the drain hole. Theres a bunch of leaves piled up in the hole so I’m thinking something got clogged in it. I start pulling the leaves out by hand and then felt something soft and furry. I nearly fell off the roof. Grabbing some salad tongs, I pulled out a very decomposed squirrel or rat thing that was all bloated. The smell was horrendous. ---
**Author:** ![emacularius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@emacularius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacularius)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/18 "2004-05-03T00:01:24Z")
Once, during a visit to Grandma’s (southern AL) I went into the bathroom to find a very LARGE beetle on the wall next to the sink…it was a good 4 in long at least… it was like a little tank, it was… I got my parents attention, walked down the hallway to the other end of the house (a good 20 feet or so) and heard a loud crunching noise… turned out that noise was my stepdad killing the beetle. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/19 "2004-05-03T00:43:00Z")
> [@Satyricon](#): > > In Canada (where I am) and many other areas a “daddy long legs” is a type of spider an inch to 2 inches in diameter, with a small tan oval body and hair-thin legs that are about 2-2 1/2 inches long. There’s a good picture of one here: [http://www.pbase.com/image/408080](http://www.pbase.com/image/408080) > > They don’t live in webs, they’re wandering hunters, and will eat other spiders and bugs. they do spin silk to wrap food and for nests, though. They’re ugly buggers, but harmless to people. Yes - I’ve just done a bit of googling and find that what we call a Daddy Long Legs in Britain is actually a Crane Fly : [Crane Fly](http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th6g.htm) Nothing like as frightening as your Daddies. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112/20 "2004-05-03T00:57:30Z")
> [@mrsface](#): > > Not trying to be pedantic or anything, but how can a Daddy Long Legs eat a spider? Unless a ‘Daddy Long Legs’ means something different in NZ? In the UK it refers to a flying insect with long legs, but it doesn’t make webs and to my knowledge does not prey on spiders. Daddy long legs in Canada are spiders too. My creepiest insect moment. I have many since I often photograph them as part of my job, but the one that affected me the most was knocking down a mud wasp nest and finding about 20 live spiders inside with all their legs chewed off (the wasp lays eggs on them for the larva to eat when they hatch). Very creepy. I stepped on them all. In regards to the headless bird discussion, I found one of our dogs chewing on a coyote head the other day, nice fresh one too. Never found the rest of it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrifying-insect-experience/243112.md?page=2)