The Wild & Creepy Tenants - The Biting Strongman & The Little Technician [Every Day Is Halloween]
They are born, live, and then die in our basements, attics, garages, and even bathrooms. Every day, they do their best trying not to stick out, but these places have become their true kingdom - and it seems that they are not planning to leave them voluntarily.
The Biting Strongman
The Giant House Spider (Eratigena atrica) is considered to be one of the largest spiders in Europe. Its 5cm long legs allow it to move with an astonishing speed, reaching up to 0.53 metre per second! If it were slower, it would surely die of hunger.
Why?
It's simple - its web isn't sticky. So when the giant house spider notices any potential prey it needs to instantly capture it. The deadly bite prevents an escape.
What's its prey?
Usually, the spider has no idea - despite having four pairs of eyes, it sees almost nothing. It probably only recognises darkness and light. That's why it bites harder - it is the only house spider whose bite can penetrate human skin. Its bite can be very painful, and can cause swelling. We can encounter it in our bathrooms - it tends to get trapped inside a bathtub, because the walls are too slippery for it to be able to get out.
The Little Technician
The Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia) is an insect with unfair bad reputation. It has been quite common to scare children with the story of an earwig crawling into the ear, at night, and then finding it's way to the brain. Of course, this story is completely made-up, same as the reports about its "pincers" pinching human's skin.
This characteristic element in this insect's body serves many other functions. During mating, the male uses it to embrace the female. It also serves as a tool for repelling the enemies, and unfolding their wings.
Not many people know that, under the chitin case in the middle part of its body, the earwig has a hidden pair of membranous wings. They are, similarly to umbrella, equipped with a blocking mechanism that prevents it from automatic folding.
By looking at its "forceps" (hindwings), we can recognise the sex: they are curved in males, and straight in females.
Happy Halloween
-logic
This is creepier than the other halloween posts. haha
Tigers, lion, snakes bears monsters and crackheads are less scary than insects. lol
good post.
Yeah I guess it can be quite scary :D
Fascinating creepy crawlies cool article upvoted just hope theres no bed bugs tonight.
Thanks.
Hah, you never know. Just keep your mouth zipped and ears plugged ;-)
They don't bother me much but it gets bigger, I'll rather get rid of them.
Seriously though, if you have one around, maybe you want to shoot some spider web pictures for this week #steemitphotochallenge.
I may shoot some actually. I have got few spiders in my bathroom. One appear to be Eratigena atrica :-)
I never kill house spiders, regardless the size. They are my accomplices in fighting flies and mosquitos.
I try to let the big ones out of the home. I live in a flat.
Buy the spider something nice if you win. :-)
this stuff gives me the creeps but def. gets an upvote!
Thanks!
Ai-yeeee!!!! Those sucker have wings?!?!
I had to admit I am completely fascinated with the macro photography of these critters. It's really neat to see all the details we miss upon smooshing them.
There is no need to smoosh them. They do no harm like mosquitos or parasites :P
I've actually got beautiful Silk Orbweavers but they're gracious enough to stay outside and mind themselves. The wolf spiders on the other hand... 'scuze the language, but they're a**holes and don't give a crap about personal space. LOL They get the boot...literally.
There was a huge spider in the house like a month ago and it freaked me out. It was seriously like a Halloween plastic spider except it was real. Resteemed
There is one in my bathroom. I let it catch the bugs :-)