# When nature grosses you out **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612 "2007-03-12T15:48:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/141 "2007-03-15T22:34:16Z")
Cum trees really gross me out. I don’t know what the actual name of the tree is, but they smell like rotting semen. Absolutely disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Beaucarnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/142 "2007-03-15T22:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=dgrdfd] Cum trees really gross me out. I don’t know what the actual name of the tree is, but they smell like rotting semen. Absolutely disgusting. [/QUOTE] Do you live in the South? Chestnut blooms smell pretty raunchy. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/143 "2007-03-15T23:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=dgrdfd] Cum trees really gross me out. I don’t know what the actual name of the tree is, but they smell like rotting semen. Absolutely disgusting. [/QUOTE] Oh, why not collect the whole set? There’s a little innocent looking plant, [Chenopodium vulvaria,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenopodium_vulvaria) which gets it name from smelling like an unwashed … well, you get it. 🙂 I smelled one once, and the plant is aptly named. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/144 "2007-03-15T23:22:14Z")
[QUOTE=Beaucarnea] Do you live in the South? Chestnut blooms smell pretty raunchy. [/QUOTE] Yes, I do. I googled some pictures, but none of those really look like these trees though. [QUOTE=Maastricht] Oh, why not collect the whole set? There’s a little innocent looking plant, [Chenopodium vulvaria,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenopodium_vulvaria) which gets it name from smelling like an unwashed … well, you get it. 🙂 I smelled one once, and the plant is aptly named. [/QUOTE] That’s just sick. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/145 "2007-03-16T00:12:57Z")
[QUOTE=Dunawake] A fish parasite that literally replaces the tongue of its host. [Cymothoa exigua](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua) [/QUOTE] I think we have a winner! :eek: [QUOTE=dgrdfd] Cum trees really gross me out. I don’t know what the actual name of the tree is, but they smell like rotting semen. Absolutely disgusting. [/QUOTE] Carob tree (_Ceratonia siliqua_)? Cecil Adams on [Sperm trees of Los Angeles](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_363.html) One of my less than pleasant experiences: back when I was a young undergraduate biology student, I told my brother about seeing bats up close and being surprised how small they are. A few weeks later, I get a package in the mail. Opening it up, I jump on the phone and call my brother (living several states away), asking “What’s wrong with you?” His answer: “Oh, this bat got stuck in the front grille of my car, and I thought you would be interested in seeing it.” Needless to say, the week in the mail (in August) did not help with the smell. I’m surprised the mailman delivered it. Some romantic stories: During mating, the male australian redback spider performs a “somersault” to place his abdomen in front of the female’s mouth, so that the female can consume him while mating continues. The theory is that while being eaten the female allows the male to copulate for a long period and fertilize more eggs; also females who had just had a meal were more likely to reject subsequent males. (see wikipedia or [Science, January 1996](http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/271/5245/70)). Awwww!!! Anglerfish: in some species, the male is born without a digestive system. Their olfactory organs allow them to detect the female’s pheromones. The male bites into the female’s side and releases an enzyme that digests the skin of his mouth and her body, fusing the pair down to the blood vessel level. The male then atrophies down to a pair of gonads to release sperm. At this point the male looks like a wormlike appendage on the side of the female’s body. The female thus has a partner immediately available when she is ready to procreate (see wikipedia). Double awwww! The animals that creep me out the most are the parasites that alter the host’s behaviour. For example the lancet fluke that invades an ant’s body, and then causes the ant to go sit on top of a blade of grass (unnatural behaviour for an ant), making it easier for the ant to be eaten by a ruminant which will help the next stage of the parasite’s lifecycle. The parasite “allows” the ant to go back to ground level during the day so that the ant can survive the hot sun, and then sends it back up the blade of grass the following evening. ( [Microbes & Viruses News & Articles | Discover Magazine](http://discovermagazine.com/2000/aug/cover) ) Or the parasitic hairworm that invades a grasshopper’s body and eventually causes the grasshopper to go dive into a body of water, where the grasshopper drowns, and the work can exit the grasshopper’s body to continue in the next (aquatic) stage of its life (see picture here: [newscientist.com](http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7927&feedId=online-news_rss20) - the worm at this point is 3 or 4 times longer than the host’s body.) ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/146 "2007-03-16T01:13:59Z")
> [@](#): > > while being eaten the female allows the male to copulate for a long period Ah, a misplaced modifier that renders this phrase true for humans, as well. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/147 "2007-03-16T02:22:50Z")
[QUOTE=Beaucarnea] \ The answer is that I am the girl who has the _huevos_ to pick off these tiny horrors before they do any damage. Ditto for corn earworms, cabbage loopers, potato bugs, cucumber beetles, etc.\ [/QUOTE] I grew up in a Mennonite farm town, and I recall seeing a couple of older Mennonite ladies engaging in organic gardening - they were picking the potato bugs off and just matter-of-factly squishing them between their fingers. Well, that got the job done. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/148 "2007-03-16T04:11:29Z")
I stepped in roadkill rabbit this morning while walking to the bus stop. Luckily, I just stepped on a few gobbets off to the side, not right in the middle of it. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/149 "2007-03-16T04:56:47Z")
This is possibly NSFW, so I’ll break the link: ht tp://www.liveleak.com/view?i=844d12c29e Basically, a baby that is apparently missing some skull bones. It’s in Turkish, so I don’t know what the doctors are saying, and it’s possible that the baby is no longer alive at this point. It does not look like a very optimistic prognosis. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/150 "2007-03-16T05:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=dgrdfd] That’s just sick. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Yup. Botany ain’t for the faint hearted. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bogdan99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Bogdan99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bogdan99)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/151 "2007-03-16T06:13:53Z")
I remember reading somewhere of a very very small fish from the Amazon that can swim up on your urine stream, and enter your body trough the penis.And it gets stuck and you can`t get it out. I don`t know if this is an urban legend, but is really disturbing.Things shouldn`t go up trough your thing.Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/152 "2007-03-16T06:18:07Z")
[QUOTE=Bogdan99] I remember reading somewhere of a very very small fish from the Amazon that can swim up on your urine stream, and enter your body trough the penis.And it gets stuck and you can`t get it out. I don`t know if this is an urban legend, but is really disturbing.Things shouldn`t go up trough your thing.Ever. [/QUOTE] Candiru. [The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000519.html). ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/153 "2007-03-16T07:12:33Z")
[QUOTE=Queen Bruin] Candiru. [The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000519.html). [/QUOTE] You think that’s gross? You should read [Cecil’s follow-up article.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010907.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bogdan99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Bogdan99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bogdan99)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/154 "2007-03-16T09:12:56Z")
So it is true. What a disturbing situation. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/155 "2007-03-16T09:20:08Z")
My husband always says when we go to the Amazon, he’s going to wear a full-body condom. I can’t say I disapprove of his radical approach. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/156 "2007-03-16T09:34:06Z")
Reached indirectly by (imprudently) following a link in a different thread: [Rabbits infected with the Shope papillomavirus.](http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/jacksforreal.html) Icky. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/157 "2007-03-16T13:33:08Z")
[QUOTE=Earl Snake-Hips Tucker] Basically, a baby that is apparently missing some skull bones. It’s in Turkish, so I don’t know what the doctors are saying, and it’s possible that the baby is no longer alive at this point. It does not look like a very optimistic prognosis. [/QUOTE] Well, if we’re talking humans, harlequin babies are a tough one. Although there was TLC show about a couple of girls in England who have lived a lot longer than expected; they have to lotion and bath for four hours a day to keep their skin soft. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/158 "2007-03-16T15:01:24Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] You think that’s gross? You should read [Cecil’s follow-up article.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010907.html) [/QUOTE] From the report: _. . . he was standing in the river urinating, actually emerging from the water and entering his penis_ I don’t know how it got there, but I’m calling BS on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/159 "2007-03-16T15:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=Earl Snake-Hips Tucker] From the report: _. . . he was standing in the river urinating, actually emerging from the water and entering his penis_ I don’t know how it got there, but I’m calling BS on this one. [/QUOTE] Yeah, not too plausible of a story. (I’m reminded of Cecil’s column about vacuum cleaner ‘accidents’.) But why in the name of Christ would you insert a large spiny fish into your penis? Kinkiness, I understand, but this…? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612/160 "2007-03-16T15:20:12Z")
I loaded this earlier and was eating while reading through a few posts. I had this thought of , you should close the thread just incase, and finish the meal first. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-nature-grosses-you-out/395612.md?page=9)