Bugs who think it's spring!

For a couple of weeks now, I have noticed two kinds of insects out and about who should be dormant this time of year! Ants and stink bugs. I shouldn't see stinkbugs til spring and ants till early summer. Both have been active in my house. I think this may be because of how I heating from the downstairs up, which is new! Before the Utility area was always cooler. Anyone else notice new Bugs? Jim

We get a few stinkbugs too and some ladybugs throughout the season.....

I had a hugh horsefly in here yesterday, that usually happens when we have a warm spell during the winter. It has since disappeared, I think one of the cats ate it.

I saw a rather confused dandelion blooming today. Not in the house though.
pb

I picked 19 ticks, most of them deer ticks off my little jack russle last night, one this morning - and two off me this morning! I've never had a tick bite hurt like this one... picked it off 5am this morning, its now almost 4pm and it still hurts like a bugger!

pret wrote:I picked 19 ticks, most of them deer ticks off my little jack russle last night, one this morning - and two off me this morning! I've never had a tick bite hurt like this one... picked it off 5am this morning, its now almost 4pm and it still hurts like a bugger!

You shouldn't pick them off, they don't let go with their jaws and you just rip the head off and it is what is causing the pain. Its in there and now your body has to dissolve it. I can usually feel them once they are deep enough to be in live skin. Once I find one I just dab it with olive oil, keep it thick. The little buggers back right out because they cant breathe. They can hold their breath for a long time, so it may take a while 5-10 minutes. But you don't leave a head full of who knows what in you.

coaledsweat wrote:

pret wrote:I picked 19 ticks, most of them deer ticks off my little jack russle last night, one this morning - and two off me this morning! I've never had a tick bite hurt like this one... picked it off 5am this morning, its now almost 4pm and it still hurts like a bugger!

You shouldn't pick them off, they don't let go with their jaws and you just rip the head off and it is what is causing the pain. Its in there and now your body has to dissolve it. I can usually feel them once they are deep enough to be in live skin. Once I find one I just dab it with olive oil, keep it thick. The little buggers back right out because they cant breathe. They can hold their breath for a long time, so it may take a while 5-10 minutes. But you don't leave a head full of who knows what in you.

Exactly.
You can also cover them with Petroleum Jelly.

Deer tick = Lyme disease...be careful with that stuff.

av8r wrote:Deer tick = Lyme disease...be careful with that stuff.

My daughter had it a year or so ago, giant red bull's eye and all. The Dr. gave her the antibiotic treatment.

Thanks fellas,

I spoke with a friend of mine who is an MD, and she said that the tick has to be in for 24 hours to contract Lyme disease. I must have pulled their heads off in both instances... I thought I still saw their heads on their bods... Thanks for the tips on 'tick' extraction! I'll use it next time.

Thanks fellas.

I've had Lyme disease years ago. Every (&*^%(*^& joint hurt. You wanted to die. Not fun. Lucky, was treated finally and no problems. When my daughters got it later, I reconzined it quickly and their was treated immediately, so they didn't have to go thru Hello!

Lyme disease is nothing to play with. my house is 2 story , all white. in the fall i get 1,000's of lady bugs and the other one , jap bettle i think. looks like a lady bug , but more orange. the whole house gets cover in the. i found out they are attracked to white , oh boy. some do find there way into the house. i just get the shop vac out.

Ken, I have the ladybugs in this place, but not as bad as you. It seems we always have a few inside, except in the dead of winter.