I wonder why most of us find the sound of crickets soothing? I’m one of those people but I also have to admit my house is filled with them (I have no proper door thresholds as my house is still under construction almost seven years after a house fire) and the noise is
I used to love crickets chirping...until one moved into my stove at the beginning of the year. I live in a teeny tiny place, so it was maybe four yards away from where I slept. That little bastard was so loud and he would go Spinal Tap 11 for hours. This went on for *months*. Googling it, I found out a house cricket can live from 90 days to two years (FML). I tried everything. Ev-er-y-thing under the sun to catch him (the one time I saw him on top of the range, he hopped away before I could grab a pint glass to escort him out. Three-and-a-half months later, when I caught him in my sink, I didn't bother reaching for a glass. I'm Buddhist. I'll eat that karma. When you go 15 weeks without sound, uninterrupted sleep (I'm a non-mom), it toys with your sanity. Now, it's PTCD when I hear one chirp outside, close enough that it sounds *inside*. LOL. xo
You could write about bugs in every post, and I'll happily keep reading!
Last week, I discovered a praying mantis on my hummingbird feeder. Motionless on the glass with Its front grasping legs positioned, it had only one purpose there.
Because I have frequent hummingbird visitors, one of them visited the feeder before my brain fully registered the danger and moved me to action. I watched the mantis jerk its head and slightly shift its body, but it did not strike, and I imagine will not until conditions are just right.
As much as I love praying mantises as much as I love hummingbirds, and in some way felt bad for denying this one a meal, I did pull the entire feeder (up in a window box outside my second-story window) inside and then escorted it downstairs and around the corner and deposited it carefully into a lower garden. (This was an environment that I'd cultivated for hummingbirds, and could not justify leading any one of them to a gruesome death.) By the time I'd rounded the corner, the mantis had turned to watch me, and I apologized and wished it speedy hunting.
I’ve noticed more ichneumon wasps this year, too--in Minnesota! The first time I ever became aware of them, I thought they were making music with their long tail drill, like they were playing the world’s tiniest violin.
Today a fly buzzed me in my room, like a harbinger of warmer weather here in Aus I let it ring in my ear and for the first time in years I noticed its resonance and rich bass tone. Thank you insects you will be there when I am dust.
Crickets! Apparently for good luck in your house!? On another level? The Cicada! That summer in Kansas. I wasn’t used to the bake hot heat. As the thermometer gave way to the forecast high the cicada’s piercing shrill rose in unison invisible to anyone caught outside. It was impossible to separate the sensations. Air sucking heat and the shrill equally predominant. 🥵
My old farmhouse in Vermont is usually full of crickets about this time of year. They could be loud enough where I would have to turn up the volume of whatever we were listening to. It was maddening at times. My late wife would be amused when I would holler at the top of my voice, 'SHUT UP", and the critters would - for about 10 seconds and the choir would obstinately, slowly, start up again. The closest thing I hear to the din of crickets here in Calabria is the tinnitus in my ears.
“Try that with a penis.” could shut down a lot of stupid debates, mostly in Congress.
I used to love crickets chirping...until one moved into my stove at the beginning of the year. I live in a teeny tiny place, so it was maybe four yards away from where I slept. That little bastard was so loud and he would go Spinal Tap 11 for hours. This went on for *months*. Googling it, I found out a house cricket can live from 90 days to two years (FML). I tried everything. Ev-er-y-thing under the sun to catch him (the one time I saw him on top of the range, he hopped away before I could grab a pint glass to escort him out. Three-and-a-half months later, when I caught him in my sink, I didn't bother reaching for a glass. I'm Buddhist. I'll eat that karma. When you go 15 weeks without sound, uninterrupted sleep (I'm a non-mom), it toys with your sanity. Now, it's PTCD when I hear one chirp outside, close enough that it sounds *inside*. LOL. xo
I love your bug posts. I love the sound of crickets too! Now when I hear them I will be picturing their disco orgy 🦗🪩🦗
You could write about bugs in every post, and I'll happily keep reading!
Last week, I discovered a praying mantis on my hummingbird feeder. Motionless on the glass with Its front grasping legs positioned, it had only one purpose there.
Because I have frequent hummingbird visitors, one of them visited the feeder before my brain fully registered the danger and moved me to action. I watched the mantis jerk its head and slightly shift its body, but it did not strike, and I imagine will not until conditions are just right.
As much as I love praying mantises as much as I love hummingbirds, and in some way felt bad for denying this one a meal, I did pull the entire feeder (up in a window box outside my second-story window) inside and then escorted it downstairs and around the corner and deposited it carefully into a lower garden. (This was an environment that I'd cultivated for hummingbirds, and could not justify leading any one of them to a gruesome death.) By the time I'd rounded the corner, the mantis had turned to watch me, and I apologized and wished it speedy hunting.
I remember when I saw my first wood drilling wasp...I was like what the hell is that?! Love them bugs.
Those Ichemon wasps mostly live as parasites to holometabolic insects, like butterflies, Neko
I’ve noticed more ichneumon wasps this year, too--in Minnesota! The first time I ever became aware of them, I thought they were making music with their long tail drill, like they were playing the world’s tiniest violin.
congratulations on finishing the first draft of your book! revising and editing are easier, I think....
and thanks for the bug sex report....
Today a fly buzzed me in my room, like a harbinger of warmer weather here in Aus I let it ring in my ear and for the first time in years I noticed its resonance and rich bass tone. Thank you insects you will be there when I am dust.
write more about bugs please
Crickets! Apparently for good luck in your house!? On another level? The Cicada! That summer in Kansas. I wasn’t used to the bake hot heat. As the thermometer gave way to the forecast high the cicada’s piercing shrill rose in unison invisible to anyone caught outside. It was impossible to separate the sensations. Air sucking heat and the shrill equally predominant. 🥵
I never knew about ovipositors, Neko, so thanks for that.
I just hear, so what book is this?
As an avid arthropod adorer (I know--it's not alliteration because vowels) I am so happy to see this post.
This reminds me of the sex bugs from the show "Tuca and Bertie". But dang, that quiet bug looks fantastical.
My old farmhouse in Vermont is usually full of crickets about this time of year. They could be loud enough where I would have to turn up the volume of whatever we were listening to. It was maddening at times. My late wife would be amused when I would holler at the top of my voice, 'SHUT UP", and the critters would - for about 10 seconds and the choir would obstinately, slowly, start up again. The closest thing I hear to the din of crickets here in Calabria is the tinnitus in my ears.
I love crickets. Have you heard "Twisted Hair"? I love Bonnie Jo Hunt accompanied by a ghostly-sounding cricket chorus. It is mesmerizing.