Things that creep upon the earth
I don't like things that creep, generally speaking. Big or small, they have a nasty habit of creeping around for a bit and then bouncing out at you - and I think that works for anything from nasty sneaky people to small children hiding to bugs and reptiles. I've experienced a few palpitations because of the last two on that list this week, and I DON'T LIKE IT.
Our friendly Pest Control guy stopped by yesterday to set traps and poisoned bait for our not-so-friendly mice. These lovely furry creatures are nesting in the electricity junction box and the air-conditioner condensing box, to the detriment of each. I can think of at least one person reading this blog who will be horrified at the thought of small furry creatures being poisoned, but believe me, I've had enough. Not only do electrical things suddenly cease to work in the house, but there is also the electrifying chance that I might get a bigger shock than I'd bargained for, never mind the unsavoury idea of the aroma of fried mouse in the mornings...
While he was at it, Mr Pest Control also gassed four wasps nests on the side of the house, which I also found something of a relief. Michael slightly misled me about wasps in Australia: he said there weren't any. What he meant was that there aren't any European wasps in Australia. Australian Immigration and Quarantine Inspectors aren't pleased about the idea of an invasion of European wasps without appropriate visas, and given the amount of damage that introduced species have already done to the flora and fauna of this country I can sympathise, up to a point. However, Michael neglected to tell me that Australia has its own unique population of wasps and hornets - and they're double the size of their European counterparts. Now I've never been stung by a British wasp or bee, but given how badly I react to a mere mosquito bite I presume I won't react very well should the worst ever happen. I can't imagine what it would be like to be stung by one of these critters. I've seen a hornet two inches long. Even the average wasp is over an inch long, and they have strangely long rear legs that drag behind them as they fly... Yuck. So as you can tell, I'm delighted that their nests are no more.
Funnily enough I have no problem with lizards. Not only do they eat nasty bugs, but they don't seem to scuttle about in the same way that bugs do. There was a 3 foot long goanna at the swimming pool a few weeks ago: quite impressive and it certainly made some of the mothers there move pretty fast, but it didn't worry me, and nor did this foot-long blue-tongued lizard that I found outside the back door when I showed the Pest Control man where the air-conditioning box was located.
When Mr Pest Control visits us again in a couple of month's time to do a termite check, he's going to try and sort out the cockroaches - he observed we have 'a lot' in the loft when he went up to confirm there were no mice up there. Lovely.
Our friendly Pest Control guy stopped by yesterday to set traps and poisoned bait for our not-so-friendly mice. These lovely furry creatures are nesting in the electricity junction box and the air-conditioner condensing box, to the detriment of each. I can think of at least one person reading this blog who will be horrified at the thought of small furry creatures being poisoned, but believe me, I've had enough. Not only do electrical things suddenly cease to work in the house, but there is also the electrifying chance that I might get a bigger shock than I'd bargained for, never mind the unsavoury idea of the aroma of fried mouse in the mornings...
While he was at it, Mr Pest Control also gassed four wasps nests on the side of the house, which I also found something of a relief. Michael slightly misled me about wasps in Australia: he said there weren't any. What he meant was that there aren't any European wasps in Australia. Australian Immigration and Quarantine Inspectors aren't pleased about the idea of an invasion of European wasps without appropriate visas, and given the amount of damage that introduced species have already done to the flora and fauna of this country I can sympathise, up to a point. However, Michael neglected to tell me that Australia has its own unique population of wasps and hornets - and they're double the size of their European counterparts. Now I've never been stung by a British wasp or bee, but given how badly I react to a mere mosquito bite I presume I won't react very well should the worst ever happen. I can't imagine what it would be like to be stung by one of these critters. I've seen a hornet two inches long. Even the average wasp is over an inch long, and they have strangely long rear legs that drag behind them as they fly... Yuck. So as you can tell, I'm delighted that their nests are no more.
Funnily enough I have no problem with lizards. Not only do they eat nasty bugs, but they don't seem to scuttle about in the same way that bugs do. There was a 3 foot long goanna at the swimming pool a few weeks ago: quite impressive and it certainly made some of the mothers there move pretty fast, but it didn't worry me, and nor did this foot-long blue-tongued lizard that I found outside the back door when I showed the Pest Control man where the air-conditioning box was located.
When Mr Pest Control visits us again in a couple of month's time to do a termite check, he's going to try and sort out the cockroaches - he observed we have 'a lot' in the loft when he went up to confirm there were no mice up there. Lovely.
posted by Sara Bowen at 11:43 am
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