Do bugs bother you?

[wivet2011]

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Ok, so I found this topic in the allopathic threads and found it quite amusing, esp. since some of them are using bug size to eliminate schools! Wondering what everyone's thoughts here are (hope no one has a huge problem with bugs since we will have to deal with fleas, lice and ticks as vets)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=497279

 

[david594]

Big bugs bother me, but I can deal with all the little ones. Also ear mites dont freak me out.

K9 Advantix is supposed to prevent mosquitoes. If someone could invent a monthly treatment like that for humans, I would buy it in an instant!

 

[athenaparthenos]

I'm definitely not a fan of insects inside my *house*, and especially not a fan of palmetto bugs after finding them in my shoes and seeing them fly out of my heating vent as a kid in Charleston. Wasps and other fast-moving insects, or fast-moving spiders, scare me when they're inside my house. Outside though I can just avoid them and let them do their own thing.

That said, I also did a research project on Madagascar giant hissing cockroaches and kept one for a pet and took pictures of her on my head when I was dressed up as a zombie for Halloween, so clearly I'm not too fussed by them when I have some control over the situation. 😛 Giant walking sticks are also badass though I think my softest spot will always be for Gromphadorhina portentosa. :-D

I think I'd be more concerned by the masses of snow, the hurricanes, and the wretched humidity on the East Coast as a factor in my decision, personally.

As for insects on animals, bring 'em on!

 

[chordy4]

i'm really anti centipedes...we always got some freaking SCARY centipedes in michigan..esp in the schools, like these HUGE super hairy ones.

i'm also not a big fan of spiders, but it depends. like jumping spiders are cute, and tarantulas are sweet...it's the big, kinda hard-shelled ones that freak me out...which currently at my apartment in washington, we have ones just like hanging down from the outside entrance...not exactly ideal.

other than that, i really have no problems

 

[lailanni]

I do pretty well, but spiders scare the b'jesus out of me! Any size, doesn't matter. No spiders for me. No way jose. Ugh.

In the city we don't get them. Back in the sticks we got huge ones though. Seriously huge, it gives me the creepies just thinking about them.

I don't mind too much if they're outside away from me. If I'm gardening, I just mash them with my shovel or hose em'.

I heard about spiders the size of dinner plates in Africa. Yeah, I'm never going to Africa.

But animal realted bugs like mites, etc, no problem.

 

[athenaparthenos]

lailanni, I think some spiders here can get pretty big too... I'm pretty sure Clock Spider hails from North America (unfortunately)!

 

[philomycus]

I love bugs! I have a huge insect collection that I started while taking an entomology class. I carry around a kill jar in a net in my car. You never know when I'll run into a species that I don't have 😳

As for spiders....NO THANKS! I hate freakin' spiders!!! And that clock spider is more than I needed to see 😛

 

[destiny1325]

OMG is that clock spider real??!!! I would never be able to step foot in that house again! LOL

 

[ShelterGirl]

Bugs don't bother me, but don't ever ask me to handle any worms with my bare hands.

 

[nyanko]

I did my undergrad research with Drosophila melanogaster so I got over any bug phobias I had pretty quick. 😀

 

[bovine]

Insects and Spiders are both cool. I really enjoyed my entomology class. Now on the other hand snakes freak me out.

 

[Tiraka]

I don't like scorpions - I stuck my foot in a shoe once and felt something wiggling around. After screaming and flinging the shoe across the room, I picked it up and dumped out a scorpion *shudders*. I was lucky though, and I guess my sock kept it from stinging me. Years of camping have fostered a hatred of mosquitoes, but I can't say they scare me.

Other than that, I don't care as long as they're not in my house. As a kid I was always finding different bugs and critters in the backyard, and had a tarantula for a pet at one point

 

[168135]

I have a few bug phobias, but none of my phobias are related to veterinary cases that I would see around here. Things that I can't really see, like mites, don't bother me, fleas don't bother me, ticks don't bother me and maggots don't bother me. I don't think I would mind those huge fly larva that they pull out of holes as long as I don't have to touch it with an ungloved hand.

What bothers me? Huge freaking ants, flying ants, earwigs, spiders, cockroaches, junebugs, and anything that bites or stings.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I own two Chilean Rose tarantulas...named Charlotte and Jack Bauer (because of how violent he is at killing crickets....hey, it was after a long session of "24" drinking games, so sue me😉 ). They are both big sweeties and are fine with being handled.

However, if there is one of those little creepy-crawly spiders in my house - auughhh! It must die.

The worst are those huge centipede-looking things with the longish legs.

 

[ElvisMarie6]

I don't really mind most bugs but I really HATE fire ants... those things are vicious!

 

[Moonpaw]

I did my undergrad research with Drosophila melanogaster so I got over any bug phobias I had pretty quick. 😀

I think there's a difference between miniature fruit flies that couldn't hurt you if they tried, and gigantic scorpions/spiders/other large, venomous creepy crawlies. I'm way cool with most bugs (I used to volunteer to clean the superworm tank at my old job!), but the big ones that look like they bite scare the bejeesus out of me.

 

[loo]

Any pit viper that swims in water. (it looks like we're moving away from bugs)

Like cottonmouths (water moccasins). They're aggressive even if unprovoked.

The only good water moccasin is a dead water moccasin.

 

[loo]

BLACK FLIES and DEER FLIES.

 

[chordy4]

ooh...that's a good point...deer flies are pure evil!
not that they're scary, they're just painful and mean..

 

[carrbear21]

They're nasty. That's all there is to it. They may have their place in the world but whatever it is, it is FAR AWAY from me!

 

[CalpardNY]

I don't really have a problem with bugs, but i also don't have a passion for them - and I don't think I'd want to be immersed in them. When I worked at the zoo it took me a while to reach my hand in the bin of warms without using the strainer...and the bucket of crickets is still a bit creepy - all of them crawling all up my arm ::Shudder::

But i've had some experiences with some big spiders and such in Africa, and when i slept outside in hammocks in Mexico and woke up to scorpions underneath me it wasn't pleasant but i could deal. I guess I find them interesting and don't mind them but am not about to selectively reach out and grab one for sh*ts and giggles.

Though a live bug on the floor or wherever beats the cockroach I once found in my salad. 😱

 

[thereservoirdog]

I really really hate moths. I'd leave em alone except the stupid things like dive bombing straight into my face.

I'm fine with spiders though, since they eat all those annoying flying bugs.

 

[FeatheredFriend]

I don't mind bugs, I think some spiders and whatnot are cool. I generally will just move them outside if they're bothering me, but I have one golden rule. Bugs are -not- allowed in the bathroom. It's sacred ground.

And my gosh, I worked in Florida for a little bit and I swear the palmetto beetles were chasing me around the house. They're big suckers! 😱

 

[CalpardNY]

Ok clearly i need to either be productive or go to bed because I'm up at 1:15 am on SDN thinking about bugs...again...

My freshman year we had a ladybug infestation in my dorm room. Now ladybugs are harmless and supposed to be good luck right? Well when you have about a thousand of them flying around the box you sleep in and going - tap tap tap- against the window next to you as you try to work, flying around your head, getting stuck in the light, and finding them in clothes it puts a whole new spin on the little creatures. I still love lady bugs, but I will never see them the same way again. 😛

Also - stinkbugs are one very annoying bug. If you have ever smelt the effects of a pissed off or killed stinkbug, you almost prefer the noise they make. Eastern PA tends to get a lot of those~

 

[chordy4]

Ok clearly i need to either be productive or go to bed because I'm up at 1:15 am on SDN thinking about bugs...again...

My freshman year we had a ladybug infestation in my dorm room. Now ladybugs are harmless and supposed to be good luck right? Well when you have about a thousand of them flying around the box you sleep in and going - tap tap tap- against the window next to you as you try to work, flying around your head, getting stuck in the light, and finding them in clothes it puts a whole new spin on the little creatures. I still love lady bugs, but I will never see them the same way again. 😛

Also - stinkbugs are one very annoying bug. If you have ever smelt the effects of a pissed off or killed stinkbug, you almost prefer the noise they make. Eastern PA tends to get a lot of those~

🙂 i totally feel you...not quite as bad being only about 11pm, but i keep returning to these bugs...

i've been subject to several mass ladybug swarms/infestations and totally agree. plus, it was a couple of years ago that they started cross-breeding with japanese beetles? (i think that's the right one) so they turned into biting ladybugs...not cool, especially when there are thousands of them in all of your windows, doors, house, etc.

 

[nyanko]

I think there's a difference between miniature fruit flies that couldn't hurt you if they tried, and gigantic scorpions/spiders/other large, venomous creepy crawlies. I'm way cool with most bugs (I used to volunteer to clean the superworm tank at my old job!), but the big ones that look like they bite scare the bejeesus out of me.

Hey the flies looked really big under the microscope!

 

[CalpardNY]

🙂 plus, it was a couple of years ago that they started cross-breeding with japanese beetles? (i think that's the right one) so they turned into biting ladybugs...not cool, especially when there are thousands of them in all of your windows, doors, house, etc.

Yay for late night procrastination...

Oh wow - biting ladybugs? I had not heard about that!...

 

[wivet2011]

Yay for late night procrastination...

Oh wow - biting ladybugs? I had not heard about that!...

Oh yeah... japanese evil beetles, my dad didn't believe me that they bite until one bite him while he watched it! I hadn't heard they were cross breeding with real ladybugs though. I thought they were just an invasive species clearly here to take over and make our lives miserable! (and of course displace the cute ladybugs)

 

[Poke]

I'm not a big fan of bugs. I don't like spiders, and I used to have to check all the walls in the bedroom for centipedes before I could sleep.. I could never live in Arizona because of the scorpions. Oh, and maggots bother me.

Snakes on the other hand.. I don't mind them unless they can kill me. Not a big fan of death.

 

[Hobiecat1642]

For a minute I thought the title of this thread was "do hugs bother you?"
Bugs do bother me, especially ants. I'm not really a fan of hugs, either.

 

[sheep girl]

I have a roach phobia. It seems kinda silly because I am from Louisiana, and they are just part of life there (esp. the real big ones that like to fly!). I am not letting if affect my vet school choice. Interviewed with LSU, yeasterday (and it went great). Can't wait to hear the news in 3 weeks!!

 

[168135]

My freshman year we had a ladybug infestation in my dorm room. Now ladybugs are harmless and supposed to be good luck right? Well when you have about a thousand of them flying around the box you sleep in and going - tap tap tap- against the window next to you as you try to work, flying around your head, getting stuck in the light, and finding them in clothes it puts a whole new spin on the little creatures. I still love lady bugs, but I will never see them the same way again. 😛

My boyfriend walked into his bathroom the other day to get changed. Five seconds after he closes the door, all I hear is, "WHAT THE ****?!" I was thinking, "Uh oh, what happened?!" He demanded that I come here. I followed him into the bathroom and he points at the counter. "THERE." I look on the counter and there is a lady bug sitting there. "WHY?!" "Um... don't they hibernate in the winter?" "I don't know! All I know is that we've had tons of them in the house this winter!" "... so?" He throws up his hands and walks out of the bathroom.

And someone said something about moths diving at them. Well, one summer when I was little, I watched a Junebug come straight at me and land on my chest while I was in the swimming pool. I screamed bloody murder and my swimming instructor walked over and hit me in the chest. That same day, a monarch landed in my friend's hair and sat there for about a minute before flying off.

 

[LVT2DVM]

Working in vet hospital gets ya pretty used to most creepy crawlies, but after these many years...I STILL DO NOT DO MAGGOTS. hahaha. If there just on the outside, im okay. But we've had cases that the entire skin surface was crawling--from UNDERNEATH. One case was so bad that we had to euthanize the patient, it was a large dog and we placed his remains in a cadaver bag and sealed it up. The owners requested cremation but the pick up service couldnt get there until the morning and the pet wouldnt fit into our refrigeration container. Anyway, we came in the next morning and the maggots had eaten their way out of the bag and traveled from the treatment area all the way up to the front door (about 60ft) It was disgusting. Guess Im gonna be up a creek if I get into vetschool. Can you see me in clinics going, Uhmm, I can't work up that case bc it has maggots. Nope! Your outta here. So I figure Im gonna have to overcome it eventually, but for NOW...GROOOSSSS!

 

[NoleDevil]

K9 Advantix is supposed to prevent mosquitoes. If someone could invent a monthly treatment like that for humans, I would buy it in an instant!

That would be the best invention ever! I am so allergic to mosquito bites - I get huge red welts from them. Especially living in Florida, they're everywhere, all the time! 😡 I can be with a whole group of people outside somewhere and even if no one else is getting bit up, I end up going home with mosquito bites!

 

[wi girl]

Ditto NoleDevil!! I actually had one swell so badly that we went to the emergency room, and they initially thought it was a spider bite!! I've looked into it -- I think it has something to do with the way the immune system recognizes the toxins -- and if you're of a particular type, they swell much more than for everyone else.

In short I feel you pain -- and ITCHINESS!!

 

[Emio]

i'm shuddering just reading this. i HATE bugs.

i feed my lizards crickets, so those i can handle (until they climb up my arm, then i squeal like a little girl and fling them across the room. then i have to go *get* them).

please don't ever ask me to get within a football field length of a millipede.

 

[Electrophile]

Working in vet hospital gets ya pretty used to most creepy crawlies, but after these many years...I STILL DO NOT DO MAGGOTS. hahaha. If there just on the outside, im okay. But we've had cases that the entire skin surface was crawling--from UNDERNEATH. One case was so bad that we had to euthanize the patient, it was a large dog and we placed his remains in a cadaver bag and sealed it up. The owners requested cremation but the pick up service couldnt get there until the morning and the pet wouldnt fit into our refrigeration container. Anyway, we came in the next morning and the maggots had eaten their way out of the bag and traveled from the treatment area all the way up to the front door (about 60ft) It was disgusting. Guess Im gonna be up a creek if I get into vetschool. Can you see me in clinics going, Uhmm, I can't work up that case bc it has maggots. Nope! Your outta here. So I figure Im gonna have to overcome it eventually, but for NOW...GROOOSSSS!

Wow. I have a strong stomach and you have to in this business, but that definitely made my stomach turn! I can only imagine the smell. *shudders*


My own personal icky bug story. I used to foster a ton for the local humane society and we got in this one Rottie mix that was just crawling with fleas. I got him home and immediately Frontlined him. My dogs were okay as they had been treated a few days earlier. However, my poor 2.5 year old rat was not. The nasty little blood suckers jumped ship onto her somehow and just sucked her dry. She became anemic and died. 🙁

 

[polo vet]

I'm definitely not a fan of insects inside my *house*, and especially not a fan of palmetto bugs after finding them in my shoes and seeing them fly out of my heating vent as a kid in Charleston. !

Athenaparthenos, i grew up in Charleston as well! personally i am not freaked by palmetto bugs (aka cockroachs) bc we built a house on Goat Island where they were rampant... real fun. I love SC and the East Coast but hurricanes can definitely suck.

 

[rachroo]

I heard about spiders the size of dinner plates in Africa. Yeah, I'm never going to Africa.

I volunteered in South Africa for six weeks, and only saw 1 spider-like-crab-creature the whole time I was there. The key is to go to Africa (at least South Africa) during their winter (our summer) and you'll pretty much be spider/bug-free!😀