marcesent wrote:

A search online doesn't reveal much. So how dangerous are these creatures?
Anyone have any stories? Do I need to be nervous in the garden now?
TIA,
Julie

They're not dangerous at all. As a kid, I grew up hearing these things
called "spit devils". Supposedly, they would spit some type of poison
into your eye that would be very painful for a long time. I believe
that it was my grandmother that burdened me with this tale. For a good
part of my life, I recoiled whenever I saw a "spit devil" just because I
believed that as a kid. Sometimes old wives tales die hard.

--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

"Gary Brady" wrote in message
nk.net...
marcesent wrote:
They're not dangerous at all. As a kid, I grew up hearing these things
called "spit devils". Supposedly, they would spit some type of poison
into your eye that would be very painful for a long time. I believe that
it was my grandmother that burdened me with this tale. For a good part of
my life, I recoiled whenever I saw a "spit devil" just because I believed
that as a kid. Sometimes old wives tales die hard.

Done some more searching - apparently some species do spray(?) some sort of
fluid that can burn the eyes
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...dopt=Abstract).

Perhaps you just have to get them really, really mad first.

Julie

marcesent wrote:
Done some more searching - apparently some species do spray(?) some sort of
fluid that can burn the eyes
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...dopt=Abstract).

Perhaps you just have to get them really, really mad first.

More spit devil lo

http://peariverramblings.homestead.com/hoopsnakes.html

http://www.bigfootforums.com/lofiver...php/t1860.html

For all the stories, I've never seen one spit.
--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

"Gary Brady" wrote in message
nk.net...

For all the stories, I've never seen one spit.
--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX


A-HA! I found the Texas A&M Entomology discussion on the topic:

http://insects.tamu.edu/fact_fiction/walkingstick.cfm

Apparently they can cause spray injuries: "However, Jackman notes that if
disturbed the native species, A. buprestoides, is reported to be capable of
causing temporary eye injury in one study. Furthermore, we have had a few
contacts from the public that provided testimonials that they have been
sprayed with a caustic substance or were even temporarily blinded. The
entomologist advises, "The best thing to do if you encounter a walkingstick
is to leave it alone. "

I'm sure that the "spit devil" thing started with that - and then grew into
an urban legend.

Also says that they don't eat other bugs - they eat leaves.

Interesting article. I'll be leaving the sticks alone - and at peace.

Julie

In article , marcesent
wrote:

"Gary Brady" wrote in message
nk.net...

For all the stories, I've never seen one spit.
--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX


A-HA! I found the Texas A&M Entomology discussion on the topic:

http://insects.tamu.edu/fact_fiction/walkingstick.cfm

Apparently they can cause spray injuries: "However, Jackman notes that if
disturbed the native species, A. buprestoides, is reported to be capable of
causing temporary eye injury in one study. Furthermore, we have had a few
contacts from the public that provided testimonials that they have been
sprayed with a caustic substance or were even temporarily blinded. The
entomologist advises, "The best thing to do if you encounter a walkingstick
is to leave it alone. "

I'm sure that the "spit devil" thing started with that - and then grew into
an urban legend.

Also says that they don't eat other bugs - they eat leaves.

Interesting article. I'll be leaving the sticks alone - and at peace.

Julie

Well, I have seen one spit. We had a cat many years ago in Baton Rouge
that was "playing" with a spit devil like cats play with lizards. The
spit devil did spit in her eye this caused her to shake her head and
look a bit stunned. Then she promptly squashed it and ate it. This was
the biggest walking stick I have ever seen. So I was curious about it
and watched the whole thing. I have never seen one do such a thing
before or since. I would say that the insect was provoked.

Cea

Snip

Well, I have seen one spit. We had a cat many years ago in Baton Rouge
that was "playing" with a spit devil like cats play with lizards. The
spit devil did spit in her eye this caused her to shake her head and
look a bit stunned. Then she promptly squashed it and ate it. This was
the biggest walking stick I have ever seen. So I was curious about it
and watched the whole thing. I have never seen one do such a thing
before or since. I would say that the insect was provoked.

Cea


I have also seen a Walking Stick spray. We were down in Port Aransas
and there was a large one on the side of the walkway. Our dog decided
to check it out and when it got too close the Walking Stick sprayed her.
It didn't seem to harm the dog any, though she did smell a little weird
for a couple of days, even after swimming at the beach and a couple of
baths.

I've also smelled the same smell on my hands after handling these at
other times. So far, no permanent damage. :-)


*************************************************
Scott H. Sexton help@
www.sexton.com sexton.com
Eeyore's Birthday Party http://eeyores.sexton.com
*************************************************

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

"Gary Brady" wrote in message
nk.net...

For all the stories, I've never seen one spit.
--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX


A-HA! I found the Texas A&M Entomology discussion on the topic:

http://insects.tamu.edu/fact_fiction/walkingstick.cfm

Apparently they can cause spray injuries: "However, Jackman notes that if
disturbed the native species, A. buprestoides, is reported to be capable of
causing temporary eye injury in one study. Furthermore, we have had a few
contacts from the public that provided testimonials that they have been
sprayed with a caustic substance or were even temporarily blinded. The
entomologist advises, "The best thing to do if you encounter a walkingstick
is to leave it alone. "

I'm sure that the "spit devil" thing started with that - and then grew into
an urban legend.

Also says that they don't eat other bugs - they eat leaves.

Interesting article. I'll be leaving the sticks alone - and at peace.

Julie

Cool, what kind of leaves?
I always thought they were predators, thanks!
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

In article et,
Gary Brady wrote:

marcesent wrote:
Done some more searching - apparently some species do spray(?) some sort of
fluid that can burn the eyes
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=PubMed&list_u
ids=11150287&dopt=Abstract).

Perhaps you just have to get them really, really mad first.

More spit devil lo

http://peariverramblings.homestead.com/hoopsnakes.html

http://www.bigfootforums.com/lofiver...php/t1860.html

For all the stories, I've never seen one spit.

Me neither, but I was always gentle with them and just let them crawl on
me, then returned them to a safe location.
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

"Gary Brady" wrote in message
nk.net...
marcesent wrote:
They're not dangerous at all. As a kid, I grew up hearing these things
called "spit devils". Supposedly, they would spit some type of poison
into your eye that would be very painful for a long time. I believe that
it was my grandmother that burdened me with this tale. For a good part of
my life, I recoiled whenever I saw a "spit devil" just because I believed
that as a kid. Sometimes old wives tales die hard.

Done some more searching - apparently some species do spray(?) some sort of
fluid that can burn the eyes
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...ubMed&list_uid
s=11150287&dopt=Abstract).

Perhaps you just have to get them really, really mad first.

Julie

Ever had a horned lizard spit blood at you from it's eyes?
It's rare, but I did have it happen a couple of times when I was a kid.
They play dead too after they do it.

It's freaky, and it stains your shirt. G
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"marcesent" wrote:
Also says that they don't eat other bugs - they eat leaves.

My wife tells me that the praying mantis is a carnivore and the walking
stick is a vegetarian. Walking sticks normally don't do enough damage to
plants to be a concern.

I've handled both and never had one spit at me.

I can't remember if I ever saw a horned lizard squirt blood. When I was
young "horny toads" were plentiful and we could easily catch them, and did.

j jhnsn

In article ,
"James Lee Johnson" wrote:

"marcesent" wrote:
Also says that they don't eat other bugs - they eat leaves.

My wife tells me that the praying mantis is a carnivore and the walking
stick is a vegetarian. Walking sticks normally don't do enough damage to
plants to be a concern.

I've handled both and never had one spit at me.

I can't remember if I ever saw a horned lizard squirt blood. When I was
young "horny toads" were plentiful and we could easily catch them, and did.

j jhnsn

I did too. ;-)
I grew up in the Mojave desert.

I only had one (hornytoad) squirt me a couple of times.

It's freaky.
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson