Flight Rising Discussion

[quote name="Dragoness" date="2013-12-21 11:20:12"][quote name="Amalythia" date="2013-12-21 11:18:40"]This is unlike wasps that will generally chase a victim down for as long as it takes.[/quote] This is the most terrifying statement I have read all day ;.;[/quote] Wasps are horrible, horrible creatures. I hate them and mosquitoes more than I probably should. (warning: more bug talk below. Fairly warned, be ye who do not like bugs!) If anyone lives on the east coast or temperate climes - The common house centipede - one of the freakiest looking bugs you can find in your house (if you are scared of bugs, do not google!) - are also insectivores. They're like a natural solution to things like ants, wasps, fleas, cockroaches, AND mosquitoes. They use venom and also a technique where they wrap all their legs around their prey. So if you have problems in your area with wasps or ants and you happen to see a centipede around, the centipede bro will help take care of the issue as a natural predator that is generally harmless to humans and pets, unlike pesticides. I know people kill'em because they are scary looking, but I always tell people to slow their roll and let a centipede bro work. ...uh. Oh. I got a little carried away. Thank you for subscribing to bug facts and listening to me ramble while I hunt for bumbles.

Wasps and hornets are nice... Wasps will eat all the flies but not bother you unless you literally go and poke a hole in their nest. Bumblebees are nice, too. But honeybees are vicious beings.

@Bowno: People usually look at me as if I were crazy when I throw wasps and hornets out with my bare hands (I have a hornet-nest under my roof somewhere, that's why they end up inside). Bumblebees I can pick up, too, although it happens less rarely that they end up inside. You can basically go and lightly stroke one that is sitting on a flower, and she will only raise her middle leg and wave at you, "don't bother me, I'm busy!".

I also used to save bees from drowning (they go to drink water during hot days, and fall in). But it doesn't change my statement that they are vicious. I have been stung by a wasp three times, by a hornet once (...never swat at something before looking what it is), I think I have never been stung by a bumblebee, but I can't even begin to count how many times I have been stung by bees. Used to be two-three dozen times each summer when I was a child, less often now that I am an adult.

(Well, I've heard some honeybees are less aggressive than others, but I have been attacked without any tangible reason when good three hundred meters away from a hive. )

I don't mind the big fuzzy bumbles. Wasps and hornets and yellow jackets can all go to hell though. I didn't know the house centipedes helped kill them! Interesting read and interesting information - thanks @Amalythia!