Ed..this one might be for you. Swampy..I'm thinking you've probably cooked with something like these before..so here goes.
We have brown crickets in our basement. When the Orkin man came out this summer to spray for beetles and boxelders (we had thousands of them swarming on our front door..the guy said he's never seen such a bad case)..I also had him set some traps in the basement for crickets. I didn't want to spray in the house, so these sticky traps were the next best thing. The traps have been out for a few months and it's been fun to see the crickets get themselves attached. The boys love it. Well, I was just picking the traps up and placing them in the garbage when I noticed that on two of the traps, the very large crickets are gone. I know they were dead and stuck. I'm wondering...what is in my basement eating the large, brown, dead crickets? Please don't say mice. Would spiders eat them? (We have lots of those, too.)
17 comments:
Spiders might eat them.
...Or toddlers.
The toddlers might eat the crickets.
I doubt the spiders will eat the toddlers.
Just to clarify.
Although...I don't know how big the spiders are.
That's funny..thankfully when Faith sees a bug she quickly exclaims, "Ucky Bug". "Ucky Bug".
Emily ate a boxelder bug once.
I'm waiting for Ed's expertise on your question. Or a wise crack from Swampy.
I bet a giant squid would eat'em. How long's it been since you had your foundation checked?? ;-)
When Sarah was little she would FREAK at bugs so I made up a song about bugs. Something like, "God made bugs and we love bugs. Hi bug. I love you bug." She was desensitized in no time. I'm just sayin.
The Davester is my best guess.
I am so jealous that you have crickets in your basement! We pay 99 cents a dozen at Angel's to feed our box turtle. No lie. Start catching them. I'd rather pay you than Angel's. I am totally serious!
OMS, as Kristi would exclaim. First, the courage it took me to actually click on the comment link is immense. I was really afraid of getting freaked out. Sliced thumb a'la Swampy I can handle, bugs nada. Second, these comments are hilarious. I so have no clue what the deal could be but will muster enough courage to continue reading...
Carla..thanks for the desensitizing song..that girl puts everything else in her mouth..I'm okay with her not liking bugs at the moment.
KJ..me, too.
V..no squid last time I checked..I ate him.
Sacket...I love you, but I'm not catching live bugs to deliver..I really get the squeams from these nasty critters. I think we caught most of them for the winter..at least, that's my denial. And I'm sticking to it.
And my favorite comment of all tonight...Katie..our fearless hunter, OMS is right. Bugs? Maybe you should sing Carla's song a few times each day. Desensitize yourself. I'm not being nasty...just trying to be helpful.
That's it, I am officially going to start reading your blog more regularly. Between the pawn shop drama yesterday and the invertebrate mystery today, I'm hooked! I'm creeped out - in a good way! This would be a good premise for a horror movie. The culprit could be anything from a deranged mental institution escapee to a government entomological experiment gone horribly awry. Can we film in your basement? Swampy has the sweet equipment.
It's a big huge snake. Just kidding! I think the spiders are a strong possibility. How long was it from when the cricket got stuck to when it disappeared? If it was completely desiccated and decomposed, I wouldn't think it would be very appealing for anyone. I guess birds and reptiles also eat bugs; do you have an extant population of archaeopteryx in your basement? I don't think of mice as eating bugs, but maybe? They definitely might be in your house this time of year tryna b warm.
So are you saying you trapped live crickets by getting their feet stuck until they died, and found entertainment in the impending doom of the crickets? Don't tell your buddy Vonda.
KJ - In good conscience I can't let you go on thinking that I am an expert in anything other than the biological safety evaluation of medical device materials (and MAYBE music and movie trivia), but thanks for the esteem. And how did I get to be the expert and Swampy the wise-cracker? In my mind, it could just as easily be the other way around.
What about David? Didja ask David?
I'll bet he's doing Ed-worthy experiments on those bugs in his room. Betcha.
I just asked the Davester and he joked about having a snake in his bedroom. Yeah..Ed..the snake idea creeps me out big time!
Sorry, V. Yes...we put the sticky stuff out and the crickets get stuck to it until they reach their maker. Caleb's theory is that the little ones eat the big ones. Not sure how they are reaching them..since they were stuck too.
It is a basis for a creepy movie..go ahead and start filming. I need some extra cash to fund the braces for two children. Yes...two...just found out today.
One more thing...Ed..my blog really isn't all that interesting..I think it was a mistake...or perhaps...you are really in a winter blah-funk-type mood. These dark nights mess with our minds..I'm convinced of it.
I beg to differ . . .
Keep up the good work!
Hey mom, don't worry about the crickets disapearing it is probably only a mouse are maby a family of mice...anyway at least you don't have to look at them any more :)
How have I missed this? I definitely need to visit here more often;
Let's see...vanishing crickets..I might have to go with Vonda on this one; if not the giant squid, perhaps the 'Humboldt Squid' (Dosidicus gigas).
Alternately, you might consider the innate mystery of the duct tape itself as the culprit; how long did you say it had been there? I'm guessing that you hadn't been feeding it Purina Duct-tape chow? How do you think it stays so sticky and pliable?
lastly, I wouldn't suspect the mice or spiders; gophers eat bugs but with the exception of Salticidae, I don't think spiders have the tools to consume large crickets; it's usually the cricket that eats the spider.
Ed, I stand corrected. You're right, it could easily be the other way around. :)
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