Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

Found one of these (walking sticks) on my front porch today. No, not the
type that you use as a cane, but the insect - a good 8 inches long. I
flicked it off into the bushes (with a broom!). He really didn't resist
much - really, not at all. Let me flip him on his back even, I wonder if he
was close to dead? Or do they "play possum?"

Pic of the beast in question can be found he
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/raven_...cd.jpg&.src=ph

My father tells the story about when he was cleaning up some brush around
the garage into a box and somehow picked up a "nest" of them. Apparently
they were reaaaallly mad and went after him. I'm pretty sure I was there -
I seem to remember him defending himself with a shovel while one of them
literally went after it, hitting it repeatedly with the end of it's abdomen,
curled up like a scorpion.

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

Found one of these (walking sticks) on my front porch today. No, not the
type that you use as a cane, but the insect - a good 8 inches long. I
flicked it off into the bushes (with a broom!). He really didn't resist
much - really, not at all. Let me flip him on his back even, I wonder if he
was close to dead? Or do they "play possum?"

Pic of the beast in question can be found he
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/raven_...dnm=38e3scd.jp
g&.src=ph

My father tells the story about when he was cleaning up some brush around
the garage into a box and somehow picked up a "nest" of them. Apparently
they were reaaaallly mad and went after him. I'm pretty sure I was there -
I seem to remember him defending himself with a shovel while one of them
literally went after it, hitting it repeatedly with the end of it's abdomen,
curled up like a scorpion.

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

Walking sticks are harmless insect predators and are NOT aggressive...
Leave the poor things alone please?

They are no more dangerous than a preying mantis.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

Found one of these (walking sticks) on my front porch today. No, not the

Walking sticks are harmless insect predators and are NOT aggressive...
Leave the poor things alone please?

They are no more dangerous than a preying mantis.

Oh trust me, I'm a bug lover. I wouldn't have even bothered him had he not
been right where I might put my hand on the door frame.

It seems there are some varieties in the south that will spray an "acrid
fluid" that can damage your eyes when disturbed
(http://www.texasento.net/sticks.htm). But looking at the pics from that
site that doesn't seem to be my variety.

Well he now has a new home in my bushes, so hopefully he'll find a meal or
two.

I am still interested in hearing from others about any personal "run-ins"
they've had - just because I want to see if anyone had an aggressive
experience with them like my father (who is a bug lover too). I know they
should be passive, but, his weren't. :)

Julie

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

Found one of these (walking sticks) on my front porch today. No, not the

Walking sticks are harmless insect predators and are NOT aggressive...
Leave the poor things alone please?

They are no more dangerous than a preying mantis.

Oh trust me, I'm a bug lover. I wouldn't have even bothered him had he not
been right where I might put my hand on the door frame.

It seems there are some varieties in the south that will spray an "acrid
fluid" that can damage your eyes when disturbed
(http://www.texasento.net/sticks.htm). But looking at the pics from that
site that doesn't seem to be my variety.

Well he now has a new home in my bushes, so hopefully he'll find a meal or
two.

I am still interested in hearing from others about any personal "run-ins"
they've had - just because I want to see if anyone had an aggressive
experience with them like my father (who is a bug lover too). I know they
should be passive, but, his weren't. :)

Julie

Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks.
I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts.
She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers
all of her life since that incident.

I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers.

Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-)
No offense meant.

I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather
fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks.
I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts.
She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers
all of her life since that incident.

I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers.

Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-)
No offense meant.


None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I was 15 or so at
the time. I was out in the driveway with him. He was trying to "sweep" the
critter off the driveway with the shovel (that was the tool he had been
using, he had no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at
him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or grasshopper.

My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She remembers it, but I
definitely think her version gets a bit "colored" with her high anxiety at
the time.

I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks
to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting. My main concern in asking
this is my daughter, my neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get
into the garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot. But
it's not a big worry. ;)

I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather
fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul.
--

You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy curious respect
for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M is in Wildlife Biology -
aquatic biology and herpetology. I've handled more snakes and lizards and
frogs and traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find them
fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study insects, and definitely
can't touch them. Aren't phobias weird?

But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay happy. It's nice
to see critters that the fire ants haven't driven out or eaten.

Julie

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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
*************************************************

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

marcesent wrote:
|| "OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
|| ...
||| Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks.
||| I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a
||| swarm of locusts. She had bites all over her. She's been
||| terrified of large grasshoppers
||| all of her life since that incident.
|||
||| I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers.
|||
||| Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-)
||| No offense meant.
|||
||
|| None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I
|| was 15 or so at the time. I was out in the driveway with
|| him. He was trying to "sweep" the critter off the driveway
|| with the shovel (that was the tool he had been using, he had
|| no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at
|| him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or
|| grasshopper.
||
|| My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She
|| remembers it, but I definitely think her version gets a bit
|| "colored" with her high anxiety at the time.
||
|| I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible
|| from the sticks to get aggressive when disturbed when
|| nesting. My main concern in asking this is my daughter, my
|| neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get into the
|| garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot.
|| But it's not a big worry. ;)
||
||| I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be
||| rather fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul.
||| --
||
|| You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy
|| curious respect for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M
|| is in Wildlife Biology - aquatic biology and herpetology.
|| I've handled more snakes and lizards and frogs and
|| traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find
|| them fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study
|| insects, and definitely can't touch them. Aren't phobias
|| weird?
||
|| But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay
|| happy. It's nice to see critters that the fire ants haven't
|| driven out or eaten.
||
|| Julie

You have been watching too many giant bug movies....

--
--
"Fear is the parent of cruelty." -- James Anthony Froude


http://www.obsessionthemovie.com
http://home.swbell.net/bjtexas/SS/

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks.
I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts.
She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers
all of her life since that incident.

I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers.

Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-)
No offense meant.


None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I was 15 or so at
the time. I was out in the driveway with him. He was trying to "sweep" the
critter off the driveway with the shovel (that was the tool he had been
using, he had no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at
him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or grasshopper.

My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She remembers it, but I
definitely think her version gets a bit "colored" with her high anxiety at
the time.

I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks
to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting. My main concern in asking
this is my daughter, my neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get
into the garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot. But
it's not a big worry. ;)

I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather
fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul.
--

You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy curious respect
for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M is in Wildlife Biology -
aquatic biology and herpetology. I've handled more snakes and lizards and
frogs and traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find them
fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study insects, and definitely
can't touch them. Aren't phobias weird?

But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay happy. It's nice
to see critters that the fire ants haven't driven out or eaten.

Julie

Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack
unless they think you are "food" for some reason?

It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do
anything else and just wanted to go that way? G

I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes
are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away,
but too stupid to move in the right direction.

Best thing to do is to step aside?

But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an
education if I am wrong. ;-)
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"marcesent" wrote in message
...
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

Not on account of the walking sticks. Safe as houses, those are. Stay away
from the tree asps / asp larvae though. Had one drop down the back of my
collar one time - ouch!
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"Mike Harris" wrote in message
. com...

Not on account of the walking sticks. Safe as houses, those are. Stay
away from the tree asps / asp larvae though. Had one drop down the back
of my collar one time - ouch!
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX
ooooh yeah. My ex father-in-law had one fall down his shirt when he was
mowing the lawn - he literally thought he was having a heart attack as it
stung him in just the right place to make his left arm feel like it was
going numb. That coupled with the pain sent him to call 911.....not a fun
experience!!

Julie

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack
unless they think you are "food" for some reason?

It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do
anything else and just wanted to go that way? G

I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes
are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away,
but too stupid to move in the right direction.

Best thing to do is to step aside?

But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an
education if I am wrong. ;-)

I remember my Dad was trying to get away at the same time pushing it off the
driveway with the shovel. But who knows, the whole thing may have been one
big misunderstanding (my Dad and the stick, that is). :)

But remember, many creatures are not intelligent, but are perfectly capable
of aggression in self-defense (fire ants, for example). :)

You're right about the "chasing" thing. Many times it's just the noise the
person makes while they're running away crashing through the brush that
makes them think the snake is chasing them. I spent a *bunch* of time in
East Texas doing my field work for herpetology in the early 90's and we
found more than our share of moccasins. Nasty things, they are - stink like
rotten eggs (sulphur) when you disturb them. But only once did I have one
get *really* aggressive with me - it was when I was in a canoe and I
happened to paddle right on top of the lilies where he was sunning himself.
I thought he was going to come *into* the canoe with me....he struck the
paddle like 6 times!!

Hoop snakes are another Texas lore that makes me laugh. The best one was a
little old lady in East Texas that we were talking with on a cultural
herpetology trip. She claimed that the hoop snake took it's tail in it's
mouth (forming the "hoop") and then rolled at high speed chasing her across
the pasture, over a barbed wire fence (it jumped it) and then up a tree!
And the whole time the snake was whistling....I didn't have the nerve to ask
what tune. ;)

I've always maintained a healthy dose of skeptcism on both sides - both the
believers and the unbelievers of an "animal legend." It's funny how
emotional people get (not you Om ;) ) on both sides of the equation. When
emotion is projected onto critters - whether loving or hateful - objectivity
goes out the door. And a little objectivitiy - and education - is a good
thing. ;) We need more people that can balance both with care and kindness
(like you, Om ;) )! ok soapbox over!! :D

Julie

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"Mike Harris" wrote:

"marcesent" wrote in message
...
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

Not on account of the walking sticks. Safe as houses, those are. Stay away
from the tree asps / asp larvae though. Had one drop down the back of my
collar one time - ouch!
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

Oh lordy... I just brushed my hand against an asp once when I was
picking wild persimmons.

Ouch indeed!

I put them in the trash now when I find those. I grab them with a few
layers of paper towels!

Had pain for nearly 24 hours.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:

remember my Dad was trying to get away at the same time pushing it off the
driveway with the shovel. But who knows, the whole thing may have been one
big misunderstanding (my Dad and the stick, that is). :)

But remember, many creatures are not intelligent, but are perfectly capable
of aggression in self-defense (fire ants, for example). :)

Good example. ;-)
They swarm up your leg then the group "mind" starts them all stinging at
once!

I declare outright war on fire ants....


You're right about the "chasing" thing. Many times it's just the noise the
person makes while they're running away crashing through the brush that
makes them think the snake is chasing them. I spent a *bunch* of time in
East Texas doing my field work for herpetology in the early 90's and we
found more than our share of moccasins. Nasty things, they are - stink like
rotten eggs (sulphur) when you disturb them. But only once did I have one
get *really* aggressive with me - it was when I was in a canoe and I
happened to paddle right on top of the lilies where he was sunning himself.
I thought he was going to come *into* the canoe with me....he struck the
paddle like 6 times!!

Heh.

Sounds like that rather ticked off copperhead we had to "rescue" one
time. Since we were doing volunteer work for WRI, we had to capture it
alive... I refused tho' to crawl under the guys trailer for it and made
him unscrew the skirting.

We were successful but both of us had an adrenaline rush for nearly an
hour.

Wish I'd had a digicam way back then.


Hoop snakes are another Texas lore that makes me laugh. The best one was a
little old lady in East Texas that we were talking with on a cultural
herpetology trip. She claimed that the hoop snake took it's tail in it's
mouth (forming the "hoop") and then rolled at high speed chasing her across
the pasture, over a barbed wire fence (it jumped it) and then up a tree!
And the whole time the snake was whistling....I didn't have the nerve to ask
what tune. ;)

lol I've heard that one too!
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

"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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:01:38 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Oh lordy... I just brushed my hand against an asp once when I was
picking wild persimmons.

Ouch indeed!

I put them in the trash now when I find those. I grab them with a few
layers of paper towels!

Had pain for nearly 24 hours.

What's the purpose of putting it in the trash?

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:
In article ,
"marcesent" wrote:


"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...

Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks.
I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts.
She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers
all of her life since that incident.

I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers.

Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-)
No offense meant.


None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I was 15 or so at
the time. I was out in the driveway with him. He was trying to "sweep" the
critter off the driveway with the shovel (that was the tool he had been
using, he had no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at
him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or grasshopper.

My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She remembers it, but I
definitely think her version gets a bit "colored" with her high anxiety at
the time.

I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks
to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting. My main concern in asking
this is my daughter, my neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get
into the garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot. But
it's not a big worry. ;)


I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather
fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul.
--

You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy curious respect
for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M is in Wildlife Biology -
aquatic biology and herpetology. I've handled more snakes and lizards and
frogs and traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find them
fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study insects, and definitely
can't touch them. Aren't phobias weird?

But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay happy. It's nice
to see critters that the fire ants haven't driven out or eaten.

Julie


Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack
unless they think you are "food" for some reason?

It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do
anything else and just wanted to go that way? G

The walking sticks out at my place seem to climb
for safety. If ol' dad was the tallest thing
around, it was probably trying to climb him.

I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes
are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away,
but too stupid to move in the right direction.

Best thing to do is to step aside?

But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an
education if I am wrong. ;-)

Water moccasins are at least smart enough to
recognize something out-of-the-ordinary in their
environment, which they generally seem to consider
a threat (yeah, every time I've seen this, it's
been a guy with a .22). They *will* attempt to
drive you from their territory.

DT

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:01:38 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Oh lordy... I just brushed my hand against an asp once when I was
picking wild persimmons.

Ouch indeed!

I put them in the trash now when I find those. I grab them with a few
layers of paper towels!

Had pain for nearly 24 hours.

What's the purpose of putting it in the trash?

Keeping it from reproducing!
I could squish them I suppose, but I'm squeemish.

I flush palmetto bugs down the toilet because it grosses me out to
squish them.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:18:09 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:01:38 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Oh lordy... I just brushed my hand against an asp once when I was
picking wild persimmons.

Ouch indeed!

I put them in the trash now when I find those. I grab them with a few
layers of paper towels!

Had pain for nearly 24 hours.

What's the purpose of putting it in the trash?

Keeping it from reproducing!
I could squish them I suppose, but I'm squeemish.

I flush palmetto bugs down the toilet because it grosses me out to
squish them.

So what's the "om" shit about? Certainly not the right thing to do
for a person who uses that term.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:18:09 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:01:38 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Oh lordy... I just brushed my hand against an asp once when I was
picking wild persimmons.

Ouch indeed!

I put them in the trash now when I find those. I grab them with a few
layers of paper towels!

Had pain for nearly 24 hours.

What's the purpose of putting it in the trash?

Keeping it from reproducing!
I could squish them I suppose, but I'm squeemish.

I flush palmetto bugs down the toilet because it grosses me out to
squish them.

So what's the "om" shit about? Certainly not the right thing to do
for a person who uses that term.

Om is all about enlightenment.....

Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:41:29 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Om is all about enlightenment.....

Ya, and as long as you rejoice in killing sentient beings you will
never reach enlightenment. That would require a basic level of
wisdom.

Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

I trap them under a glass and slide thin cardboard under that. I
place them gently outside.

The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)

Okay.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:41:29 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Om is all about enlightenment.....

Ya, and as long as you rejoice in killing sentient beings you will
never reach enlightenment. That would require a basic level of
wisdom.

Cockroaches are sentient?


Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

I trap them under a glass and slide thin cardboard under that. I
place them gently outside.

Whatever works for you...

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z54B2597D

Cockroaches transmit human disease.
They are vermin.

Vectors that can cause endless human suffering due to misguided fools
like you.

No offense.

I believe in being merciful when it's appropriate.

Mine, my families and my neighbors health are more important than that
of the cockroach. They are not an endangered species, nor do they have
any benefit that I know of.

I treat fire ants, mosquitos and houseflies with the same "compassion".
I make sure that they meet a reasonably merciful death.

Oh, and rats and mice too. I'm sure all the people that have died of
Hannta virus and bubonic plague will bow down and thank you for your
mercy in rescuing vermin.

Fleas, lice, ticks... I could go on.
There are limits to mercy. It's called common sense.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an oxymoron to people like you.



The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)

Okay.

You have no sense of humor.
Go back to your cave please.

Hide from reality where you cannot hurt anyone by setting disease ridden
vermin free to hurt other humans!

Better yet, feed them and keep them in your home where they can transmit
their delightful pathogens to you.

Bacteria and viruses have a right to live too, right?

Sorry, but this crap can be carried to extremes, and I WILL draw the
line at cockroaches and similar creatures!!!!!!!

I work in health care. I've SEEN the suffering they can cause!

Set that damned cockroach free. It'll wander over to where some baby or
elderly person (those more likely to die of Salmonella infection) will
get infected and die due to your "compassion".

I'll let you comfort the family members.

Cheers!
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

I think it was the self-righteous superiority thing, but I could be wrong.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

--
You never know how much you really believe anything
until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life or death to you.
~ C.S.Lewis


"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:04:40 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:41:29 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Om is all about enlightenment.....

Ya, and as long as you rejoice in killing sentient beings you will
never reach enlightenment. That would require a basic level of
wisdom.

Cockroaches are sentient?


Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

I trap them under a glass and slide thin cardboard under that. I
place them gently outside.

Whatever works for you...

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z54B2597D

Cockroaches transmit human disease.
They are vermin.

Vectors that can cause endless human suffering due to misguided fools
like you.

No offense.

I believe in being merciful when it's appropriate.

Mine, my families and my neighbors health are more important than that
of the cockroach. They are not an endangered species, nor do they have
any benefit that I know of.

I treat fire ants, mosquitos and houseflies with the same "compassion".
I make sure that they meet a reasonably merciful death.

Oh, and rats and mice too. I'm sure all the people that have died of
Hannta virus and bubonic plague will bow down and thank you for your
mercy in rescuing vermin.

Fleas, lice, ticks... I could go on.
There are limits to mercy. It's called common sense.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an oxymoron to people like you.



The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)

Okay.

You have no sense of humor.
Go back to your cave please.

Hide from reality where you cannot hurt anyone by setting disease ridden
vermin free to hurt other humans!

Better yet, feed them and keep them in your home where they can transmit
their delightful pathogens to you.

Bacteria and viruses have a right to live too, right?

Sorry, but this crap can be carried to extremes, and I WILL draw the
line at cockroaches and similar creatures!!!!!!!

I work in health care. I've SEEN the suffering they can cause!

Set that damned cockroach free. It'll wander over to where some baby or
elderly person (those more likely to die of Salmonella infection) will
get infected and die due to your "compassion".

I'll let you comfort the family members.

Cheers!

OOps, must have struck a nerve.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:04:40 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:41:29 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Om is all about enlightenment.....

Ya, and as long as you rejoice in killing sentient beings you will
never reach enlightenment. That would require a basic level of
wisdom.

Cockroaches are sentient?


Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

I trap them under a glass and slide thin cardboard under that. I
place them gently outside.

Whatever works for you...

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z54B2597D

Cockroaches transmit human disease.
They are vermin.

Vectors that can cause endless human suffering due to misguided fools
like you.

No offense.

I believe in being merciful when it's appropriate.

Mine, my families and my neighbors health are more important than that
of the cockroach. They are not an endangered species, nor do they have
any benefit that I know of.

I treat fire ants, mosquitos and houseflies with the same "compassion".
I make sure that they meet a reasonably merciful death.

Oh, and rats and mice too. I'm sure all the people that have died of
Hannta virus and bubonic plague will bow down and thank you for your
mercy in rescuing vermin.

Fleas, lice, ticks... I could go on.
There are limits to mercy. It's called common sense.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an oxymoron to people like you.



The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)

Okay.

You have no sense of humor.
Go back to your cave please.

Hide from reality where you cannot hurt anyone by setting disease ridden
vermin free to hurt other humans!

Better yet, feed them and keep them in your home where they can transmit
their delightful pathogens to you.

Bacteria and viruses have a right to live too, right?

Sorry, but this crap can be carried to extremes, and I WILL draw the
line at cockroaches and similar creatures!!!!!!!

I work in health care. I've SEEN the suffering they can cause!

Set that damned cockroach free. It'll wander over to where some baby or
elderly person (those more likely to die of Salmonella infection) will
get infected and die due to your "compassion".

I'll let you comfort the family members.

Cheers!

OOps, must have struck a nerve.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:04:40 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:41:29 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Om is all about enlightenment.....

Ya, and as long as you rejoice in killing sentient beings you will
never reach enlightenment. That would require a basic level of
wisdom.

Cockroaches are sentient?


Cockroaches don't need to be in my house.

I trap them under a glass and slide thin cardboard under that. I
place them gently outside.

Whatever works for you...

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z54B2597D

Cockroaches transmit human disease.
They are vermin.

Vectors that can cause endless human suffering due to misguided fools
like you.

No offense.

I believe in being merciful when it's appropriate.

Mine, my families and my neighbors health are more important than that
of the cockroach. They are not an endangered species, nor do they have
any benefit that I know of.

I treat fire ants, mosquitos and houseflies with the same "compassion".
I make sure that they meet a reasonably merciful death.

Oh, and rats and mice too. I'm sure all the people that have died of
Hannta virus and bubonic plague will bow down and thank you for your
mercy in rescuing vermin.

Fleas, lice, ticks... I could go on.
There are limits to mercy. It's called common sense.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an oxymoron to people like you.



The Omelet is deliberate, Omeggs are generally served scrambled. ;-)

Okay.

You have no sense of humor.
Go back to your cave please.

Hide from reality where you cannot hurt anyone by setting disease ridden
vermin free to hurt other humans!

Better yet, feed them and keep them in your home where they can transmit
their delightful pathogens to you.

Bacteria and viruses have a right to live too, right?

Sorry, but this crap can be carried to extremes, and I WILL draw the
line at cockroaches and similar creatures!!!!!!!

I work in health care. I've SEEN the suffering they can cause!

Set that damned cockroach free. It'll wander over to where some baby or
elderly person (those more likely to die of Salmonella infection) will
get infected and die due to your "compassion".

I'll let you comfort the family members.

Cheers!

OOps, must have struck a nerve.

Watch a 3 year old die of some stupid vector virus.
Watch her family fall apart.

Then tell me you have compassion for a damned cockroach.

You are so clueless.........
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
"Kathleen" wrote:

I think it was the self-righteous superiority thing, but I could be wrong.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

For which one of us?
The cockroach or the Buddhist?

Do _you_ set cockroaches free too?

Go to RN school.
You may change your mind about them...

We have to set limits sometimes.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:51:55 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Watch a 3 year old die of some stupid vector virus.
Watch her family fall apart.

Then tell me you have compassion for a damned cockroach.

You are so clueless.........

Mmmmm, I don't think so.

A child dying is awful and unfortunate, but karma determines what
happens in our lives. That's my belief. Kill a cockroach, next life
die of some stupid vector virus. Karma ripening as similar to the
cause. Of course you'll turn that into what you want my words to mean,
so go ahead.

I have compassion for all sentient beings, including cockroaches.

The objection I have to your bullshit is not killing that you do, but
that you do it in the name of om mani padme hum, which you replaced
with omlette. You are the one who appears clueless.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:51:55 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Watch a 3 year old die of some stupid vector virus.
Watch her family fall apart.

Then tell me you have compassion for a damned cockroach.

You are so clueless.........

Mmmmm, I don't think so.

A child dying is awful and unfortunate, but karma determines what
happens in our lives. That's my belief. Kill a cockroach, next life
die of some stupid vector virus. Karma ripening as similar to the
cause. Of course you'll turn that into what you want my words to mean,
so go ahead.

I have compassion for all sentient beings, including cockroaches.

The objection I have to your bullshit is not killing that you do, but
that you do it in the name of om mani padme hum, which you replaced
with omlette. You are the one who appears clueless.

The fact that you value the life of a cockroach over the life of an
infant or a Grandparent shows where your "karmic" values lie. They will
catch up to you in the next life.

'nuff said. I will not comment on this further......
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

In article ,
OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:

In article ,
Jangchub wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:51:55 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Watch a 3 year old die of some stupid vector virus.
Watch her family fall apart.

Then tell me you have compassion for a damned cockroach.

You are so clueless.........

Mmmmm, I don't think so.

A child dying is awful and unfortunate, but karma determines what
happens in our lives. That's my belief. Kill a cockroach, next life
die of some stupid vector virus. Karma ripening as similar to the
cause. Of course you'll turn that into what you want my words to mean,
so go ahead.

I have compassion for all sentient beings, including cockroaches.

Ps, I'd suggest you google the term "sentient".

Cockroaches aren't.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

I think it was the self-righteous superiority thing, but I could be
wrong.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

For which one of us?

Is it Buddhism?
I thought it was self-righteousnessism.
I don't set cockroaches free, nor do I live with them. Ever.
Or mice or scorpions or similiar critters you mentioned either.
I allow the spiders to live, as a general rule.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

The cockroach or the Buddhist?

Do _you_ set cockroaches free too?

Go to RN school.
You may change your mind about them...

We have to set limits sometimes.
--
Peace!
Om

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

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:32:09 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:

The fact that you value the life of a cockroach over the life of an
infant or a Grandparent shows where your "karmic" values lie. They will
catch up to you in the next life.

'nuff said. I will not comment on this further......

I never once said I value any life over another. So I was correct
when I said you'd twist my words for them to mean whatever you want
them to mean. And "om" doesn't mean enlightenment.

It's quite virtuous to value all sentient beings. The ant I save from
the pool is my own.

Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
 

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:37:28 -0500, OmManiPadmeOmelet
wrote:


Ps, I'd suggest you google the term "sentient".

Cockroaches aren't.

Yes, dear. Anything with a consciousness is a sentient being. Are
you saying a cockroach doesn't have consciousness? Why do they run?
You said you weren't going to further comment. Maybe you should stay
with that.