I found this daddy-longlegs (harvestman) in my bathtub the other day. You may know that I hatehatehate spiders, but even though DL's look like a spider, they don't bother me that much. They are not true spiders and have no venom. My late husband taught me how to catch them without getting all creeped out.
So, I thought for all you city-folk, I'd snap a pic and tell you how to get rid of them without whacking them with a newspaper and leaving guts all over the wall.
As you see in the pic, you have to grab the 2 back legs right on the first joint. Then you can pick them up. Their legs don't bend at the body, and by holding at the joint, they can't drape down and touch you with their other legs.
It might be hard to tell which is the front and which is the back, but the longest pair of legs are situated at the front of the body. You've gotta be quick when you grab, or they try to run away and it's harder to catch a moving target.
I took this guy outside and let him go.
And then I thought if I was posting this, I might as well add pictures of the other animal life around the house.
This nest was from last year. Unfortunately, it was situated low to the ground, and something ate the eggs. I would guess a raccoon. Most of the robins make nests on the protruding logs just under the 4 corners of the house. I usually have at least one every year. I don't know what this bird's problem was.
But, I think it's a pretty picture.
For the past five or six years, I have had at least one tree frog that hangs around my front door. I keep the light on all night and they come for the bugs. I think he lives in the hibiscus plant that I put out near the door each summer. I don't know if it's the same frog or not, but I think it's pretty cool. He's about 1 1/4 inches long.
You can see I painted around the window, from green to maroon and did a crappy job.
This is a larger cousin, who sat still for me a couple years ago. He was about 3 inches long. I won a second place ribbon for this pic at the fair. It was in the fall and the day was chilly, otherwise he would have run away.
Common garter snake. But, (s)he's huge. One of the largest I have ever seen.
I think it's female, because of the size. She's about 1 1/4 inch diameter across the thickest part. I also estimate 2 feet long. I hope she's eating all the slugs in my garden, and maybe a chipmunk or two. Damn chipmunks!
Luna moth. Kind of rare, I may see one of these every couple years.
This one hung around for a couple days.
I hate these things, whatever they are.
One of my favorite moths. They look so cool.
The moths are cycleable, the same species show up for a week or so, then disappear.
I like this one also. Makes me think of a baby dressed up in a christening outfit.
This guy would blend right into tree bark.
Not so well on my house!
Hard to tell in the pic, but this one had the prettiest aqua accents.
Yellow spotted salamander from last year. I may see one every couple years.
Oh, and this was interesting. Me being the lazy slob I am, I left my hunting coveralls out on the deck, draped on the swing all winter. June comes along and I figure I better put them away.
Unknown to me, yellowjackets had made a nest underneath. When I pulled the coverall off, all these wasps swarmed out. I was lucky I didn't get stung.
You can just about make out the nest by the sleeve that is folded over the back.
Yeah, and everybody has deer.
These 2 doe hung around my house all winter and especially liked my backyard.
My front yard - can you see her? Harley was barking and barking, and I didn't see her until she moved.
flag/flagpole/wheel/tree/deer head. Look for the black eye under the ear.
Right in front of the deck. They look fake, don't they?
And where there is life, there is also death.
Left over bones behind my house on the power line. Probably coyotes.
I saved the skull.
I have also seen fox a few times, but never had my camera handy. They are wiley little critters.
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Comments
you have a fabulous variety of moths that come around! and your
lawndoes are beautiful. ^_^Someday I'm going to hang a large white sheet out near the woods and hook up a spotlight to see what other kinds of moths I can attract. If I can stand the mosquitos.
Deer are beautiful...and yummy! ;)
oh, that would be awesome and fun! take pictures and share if/when you attempt it!
yes. yes they are. ^___^
And the frogs *smiles* Adorable! And wow that's a big snake! You can so tell the British don't have many things like that close to the house... the fact that you completely don't mind having a snake as a houseguest!
Those moths are beautiful. The second two are so fluffy! And luna moth *drool*
The does in your yard are cool. Must be nice to just watch them.
And I'm presuming the skeleton is also a deer?
Snakes are fine, I used to have one as a pet. And my mom used to get them in her cellar all the time. I'm sure you have lots of snakes around, but you just don't see them!
I could stand in my loft and watch the deer browse in the winter. They were so easy to see - brown on white. But they all disappeared during hunting season.
Yes, the skeleton is a deer. Wasn't too much left then, it's all gone now.
Thanks for sharing. I especially love the moths. So beautiful, yet butterflies get all the attention.
I find it interesting when people post pics showing stuff around their house, so I'm glad you found it interesting.
Moths are very underappreciated. That's why I posted the pics.
So I guess they are all mine.
And my bro thought he saw bear poop in the woods last summer. Wouldn't that be something?