On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:16:15 -0600, Katra
wrote:

You _murdered_ all your geckos???

Whatever for????? :-o

I grew very weary of them for (1) eating all my beneficial insects (2)
leaving their feces, empty egg cases and shed skins in all my storage
areas (3) they are not native (4) they are beady-eyed ugly things (5)
they are not protected in any fashion.

And finally, they were imported into my neighborhood about 20 years
ago by one of my neighbors who thought it might be great to have them
around. By experience I found that not to be the case.

Rusty Mase

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:30:30 -0600, Katra
wrote:

So now what are you using for insect control?
I don't and I have never found it to be a problem. I have lots of
spiders - especially jumping spiders - and they may be helping. I do
use Amdro on fire ants on occassion. Also, I use an aerosol can of
garden spray to control capenter ants where I do not want them.

And for the record, I think geckos are cute.
And for the record, I think they are vermin.

This being Texas, we had a bad Palmetto bug problem.
I still have a few but not _nearly_ so many since the Geckos took over,
and I still have praying mantises and assasin bugs, as well as plenty of
ladybugs. I don't mind a few egg cases. :-) They mostly breed in the
attic which is dead space that I don't use. There were a few in the
storage area, but that has not been a major problem.
I ignore Palmetto bugs mostly but take a garden hose to them
occassionally.

The grasshopper population has also been drastically reduced.
No, they are around but I ignore them

So, do you have any bug problems now that you killed them all?
No and I get lots of bugs outside that I ignore. I do not get many in
the house except for spiders, which I like, and only a few of them.

I've been happy too to see the fence lizard and anole populations
increase, as well as toads. :-)

Yes, but I have trouble with keeping up my toads as I am pretty high
and dry. I sometimes have a few that I love to feed Junebugs to on
the porch. They become pets.

Predator insects are great, but reptile and amphibians eat a lot more!

I have snakes. Ground snakes mostly and one snake I have an abundance
of is Texas Blind Snakes. I let them live in my flower beds around
the house. Garter snakes, yellow bellied racers and Texas rat snakes
are infrequent visitors to my yard.

Rusty Mase

In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:16:15 -0600, Katra
wrote:

You _murdered_ all your geckos???

Whatever for????? :-o

I grew very weary of them for (1) eating all my beneficial insects (2)
leaving their feces, empty egg cases and shed skins in all my storage
areas (3) they are not native (4) they are beady-eyed ugly things (5)
they are not protected in any fashion.

And finally, they were imported into my neighborhood about 20 years
ago by one of my neighbors who thought it might be great to have them
around. By experience I found that not to be the case.

Rusty Mase

So now what are you using for insect control?

And for the record, I think geckos are cute.

This being Texas, we had a bad Palmetto bug problem.
I still have a few but not _nearly_ so many since the Geckos took over,
and I still have praying mantises and assasin bugs, as well as plenty of
ladybugs. I don't mind a few egg cases. :-) They mostly breed in the
attic which is dead space that I don't use. There were a few in the
storage area, but that has not been a major problem.

The grasshopper population has also been drastically reduced.

So, do you have any bug problems now that you killed them all?

I've been happy too to see the fence lizard and anole populations
increase, as well as toads. :-)

Predator insects are great, but reptile and amphibians eat a lot more!

And it's not affecting my pollinators in the least since geckos are
nocturnal and most pollinators are diurnal.

Just my personal feelings......

K.

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On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:30:30 -0600, Katra
wrote:

So now what are you using for insect control?
I don't and I have never found it to be a problem. I have lots of
spiders - especially jumping spiders - and they may be helping. I do
use Amdro on fire ants on occassion. Also, I use an aerosol can of
garden spray to control capenter ants where I do not want them.

And for the record, I think geckos are cute.
And for the record, I think they are vermin.

This being Texas, we had a bad Palmetto bug problem.
I still have a few but not _nearly_ so many since the Geckos took over,
and I still have praying mantises and assasin bugs, as well as plenty of
ladybugs. I don't mind a few egg cases. :-) They mostly breed in the
attic which is dead space that I don't use. There were a few in the
storage area, but that has not been a major problem.
I ignore Palmetto bugs mostly but take a garden hose to them
occassionally.

The grasshopper population has also been drastically reduced.
No, they are around but I ignore them

So, do you have any bug problems now that you killed them all?
No and I get lots of bugs outside that I ignore. I do not get many in
the house except for spiders, which I like, and only a few of them.

I've been happy too to see the fence lizard and anole populations
increase, as well as toads. :-)

Yes, but I have trouble with keeping up my toads as I am pretty high
and dry. I sometimes have a few that I love to feed Junebugs to on
the porch. They become pets.

Predator insects are great, but reptile and amphibians eat a lot more!

I have snakes. Ground snakes mostly and one snake I have an abundance
of is Texas Blind Snakes. I let them live in my flower beds around
the house. Garter snakes, yellow bellied racers and Texas rat snakes
are infrequent visitors to my yard.

Rusty Mase

In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:30:30 -0600, Katra
wrote:

So now what are you using for insect control?
I don't and I have never found it to be a problem. I have lots of
spiders - especially jumping spiders - and they may be helping. I do
use Amdro on fire ants on occassion. Also, I use an aerosol can of
garden spray to control capenter ants where I do not want them.

Ok, so you are a spider lover... ;-)
Then I forgive you for killing innocent geckos. G

I happen to be a spider fan too, and most of my jumping spiders have
dissapeared. But, I still have a healthy population of weavers, or
whatever the are, a largish spiky looking chocolate brown spider that
spins a really big, round and symmetrical web every night, then cuts it
down in the morning. I have to be careful going out into the yard at
night as there are so many of them and they won't hesitate to spin
across a pathway. G Beautiful webs!

I have a lot of spiders and any yard guests that dare to mess with my
spiders gets a chewing out and spider education lecture!


And for the record, I think geckos are cute.
And for the record, I think they are vermin.

To each his own...


This being Texas, we had a bad Palmetto bug problem.
I still have a few but not _nearly_ so many since the Geckos took over,
and I still have praying mantises and assasin bugs, as well as plenty of
ladybugs. I don't mind a few egg cases. :-) They mostly breed in the
attic which is dead space that I don't use. There were a few in the
storage area, but that has not been a major problem.
I ignore Palmetto bugs mostly but take a garden hose to them
occassionally.

Ew!!! I cannot stand those damned things and am glad that my toads have
increased enough to eat the bigger ones, and the geckos help to control
the newborn population! The chickens eat whatever I may chase out during
the day. Too bad the damned things are nocturnal. :-P

Fortunately, most of the ones that I find in the house are quite dead as
the cats get to them first... Cats adore Palmetto bugs. ;-) crunch
crunch


The grasshopper population has also been drastically reduced.
No, they are around but I ignore them

Sorry, they do WAY too much damage to my cannas, and the okra plants in
the spring! I have a couple of yard snakes that I know eat them as i've
caught the snakes with 'hoppers in their mouths which is why they still
get to live here. I have no fear of snakes, but some insect eating
species also eat lizards and toads which is why you may be having a
problem building up your toad population if you have a lot of snakes.

I've had to trap all my ratsnakes and relocate them as they were getting
into the pigeon coop and killing and eating baby pigeons and eggs!

Unfortunately, that has contributed to the current rat problem. I need
to go and buy a bunch of one bite bars.

I hate poison, but there is a time and place for it.


So, do you have any bug problems now that you killed them all?
No and I get lots of bugs outside that I ignore. I do not get many in
the house except for spiders, which I like, and only a few of them.

You have cats. ;-)
Right?


I've been happy too to see the fence lizard and anole populations
increase, as well as toads. :-)

Yes, but I have trouble with keeping up my toads as I am pretty high
and dry. I sometimes have a few that I love to feed Junebugs to on
the porch. They become pets.

So water more, and put out some toad houses.
Upside down, low clay pots with a small entrance in one side in a shaded
spot.
Stacks of limestone rock work too. I have toads living in the holes of
the cinder block raised garden beds.


Predator insects are great, but reptile and amphibians eat a lot more!

I have snakes. Ground snakes mostly and one snake I have an abundance
of is Texas Blind Snakes. I let them live in my flower beds around
the house. Garter snakes, yellow bellied racers and Texas rat snakes
are infrequent visitors to my yard.

Ground snakes are good, but they usually only eat subterranian insects
and earthworms??? AFAIK?
They are death on cutworms.


Rusty Mase

K.

--
Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katra at centurytel dot net,,
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 03:21:17 -0600, Katra
wrote:
(snipped)

I have no fear of snakes, but some insect eating
species also eat lizards and toads which is why you may be having a
problem building up your toad population if you have a lot of snakes.

My toads have problems crossing the road and ultimately I find them
dried flat, out on the asphault. They are called Bufo roadensis. By
the time they migrate up to my house they are too big for any snakes I
have.

You have cats. ;-)
Right?

Nope, I had them mostly for my kids and the last one disappeared last
year, probably due to coyotes. So that was my last one. The cat had
claustiphobia and would only come in the house if I forced him, which
I only did when the weather was very bad, which it really has not been
in many years.

Rusty Mase

In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 03:21:17 -0600, Katra
wrote:
(snipped)

I have no fear of snakes, but some insect eating
species also eat lizards and toads which is why you may be having a
problem building up your toad population if you have a lot of snakes.

My toads have problems crossing the road and ultimately I find them
dried flat, out on the asphault.

How sad. :-( But I've found a few that way as well...
I've had some smaller ones in my yard, anywhere from 1" long on up to
some really big ones.

I adore toads! They are so damned cute. :-)


They are called Bufo roadensis. By
the time they migrate up to my house they are too big for any snakes I
have.

You have cats. ;-)
Right?

Nope, I had them mostly for my kids and the last one disappeared last
year, probably due to coyotes. So that was my last one. The cat had
claustiphobia and would only come in the house if I forced him, which
I only did when the weather was very bad, which it really has not been
in many years.

Rusty Mase

I have a few indoor cats. They eat the palmetto bugs, and the occasional
gecko! LOL!

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders, you have
some in the house. I'll occasionally get one living in the kitchen
window. You can hand-feed some of the bigger ones. Grab a large fly and
hold it by the wings so that the legs still wiggle, then offer that
carefully to one. They will take live bugs from your fingers. Somewhere
I have a picture of one of the large black fuzzy ones with a mealworm in
it's fangs that I fed it. :-)

--
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,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katra at centurytel dot net,,
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra

In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 03:21:17 -0600, Katra
wrote:
(snipped)

I have no fear of snakes, but some insect eating
species also eat lizards and toads which is why you may be having a
problem building up your toad population if you have a lot of snakes.

My toads have problems crossing the road and ultimately I find them
dried flat, out on the asphault.

How sad. :-( But I've found a few that way as well...
I've had some smaller ones in my yard, anywhere from 1" long on up to
some really big ones.

I adore toads! They are so damned cute. :-)


They are called Bufo roadensis. By
the time they migrate up to my house they are too big for any snakes I
have.

You have cats. ;-)
Right?

Nope, I had them mostly for my kids and the last one disappeared last
year, probably due to coyotes. So that was my last one. The cat had
claustiphobia and would only come in the house if I forced him, which
I only did when the weather was very bad, which it really has not been
in many years.

Rusty Mase

I have a few indoor cats. They eat the palmetto bugs, and the occasional
gecko! LOL!

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders, you have
some in the house. I'll occasionally get one living in the kitchen
window. You can hand-feed some of the bigger ones. Grab a large fly and
hold it by the wings so that the legs still wiggle, then offer that
carefully to one. They will take live bugs from your fingers. Somewhere
I have a picture of one of the large black fuzzy ones with a mealworm in
it's fangs that I fed it. :-)

--
Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katra at centurytel dot net,,
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:57:55 -0600, Katra
wrote:

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders,

I do, mainly the black and white ones. I read a paper some time ago
about people trying to talk with them using their fingers. Making a
"Hook em Horns" sign just like the spider does and waving your
fingers. It was suspected that was how they communicated with other
jumping spiders. Seemed sort of preposterous but it is fun.

Rusty Mase

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:57:55 -0600, Katra
wrote:

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders,

I do, mainly the black and white ones. I read a paper some time ago
about people trying to talk with them using their fingers. Making a
"Hook em Horns" sign just like the spider does and waving your
fingers. It was suspected that was how they communicated with other
jumping spiders. Seemed sort of preposterous but it is fun.

Rusty Mase

"Rusty Mase" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:57:55 -0600, Katra
wrote:

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders,

I do, mainly the black and white ones. I read a paper some time ago
about people trying to talk with them using their fingers. Making a
"Hook em Horns" sign just like the spider does and waving your
fingers. It was suspected that was how they communicated with other
jumping spiders. Seemed sort of preposterous but it is fun.

Rusty Mase

Yeah, I tried that once with one big jumping spider and that bad ass came
after me! Launched himself, he did.

I guess he wasn't a Longhorn fan...

Or maybe he thought I was a Lady Longhorn.

--
Catbird

"Oh-oh, her schizo is about to phrenia" - Bob Hope

"Rusty Mase" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:57:55 -0600, Katra
wrote:

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders,

I do, mainly the black and white ones. I read a paper some time ago
about people trying to talk with them using their fingers. Making a
"Hook em Horns" sign just like the spider does and waving your
fingers. It was suspected that was how they communicated with other
jumping spiders. Seemed sort of preposterous but it is fun.

Rusty Mase

Yeah, I tried that once with one big jumping spider and that bad ass came
after me! Launched himself, he did.

I guess he wasn't a Longhorn fan...

Or maybe he thought I was a Lady Longhorn.

--
Catbird

"Oh-oh, her schizo is about to phrenia" - Bob Hope

Unfortunately, like so much else, they ARE out of balance. Natural
controls - the Texas Horned Lizerd ("Horney Toads") are endangered, and
in many areas imported fireants have wiped out the mative leaf cutters.

I'd prefer colonies of red ants and lots of horned lizards to vast acres
of fireants.

....sigh.....

RWS

Rusty Mase wrote:
On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 23:59:20 GMT, Cowboy Bob
wrote:


You think so. So did I.


OK, I have not had that sort of experience so I have not had the
opportunity to be see their downside. They were common out at Zilker
Park but they seen to be disappearing there - just like the ground
squirrels that used to be very common out there.

Rusty Mase

Yes, and the point is, Nematodes work - they are bio-specific and
natural - that is, natural preditors of the "pest" in discussion. They
are organic and specific, they manage the problem very effectively.

RWS

Katra wrote:

Ah, honey, Sevin dust is hardly organic,
but it does bio-degrade rather quickly...

K.

In article , B-0b1
wrote:


Hey..stay organic as 10/15% sevin dust in solution ( available at Lowes)
could just as easily
be dribbled down their nesting mound?? It is very effective in any
environment!
Momma Nature will LUV-YA for it! B-0b1

Rusty Mase wrote:


On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 23:59:20 GMT, Cowboy Bob
wrote:


You think so. So did I.

OK, I have not had that sort of experience so I have not had the
opportunity to be see their downside. They were common out at Zilker
Park but they seen to be disappearing there - just like the ground
squirrels that used to be very common out there.

Rusty Mase

--
"Beaten Paths are for Beaten People". -- Anon.

In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:57:55 -0600, Katra
wrote:

I imagine if you have a good population of jumping spiders,

I do, mainly the black and white ones.

Those have been the most fun IMHO. ;-)

I read a paper some time ago
about people trying to talk with them using their fingers. Making a
"Hook em Horns" sign just like the spider does and waving your
fingers. It was suspected that was how they communicated with other
jumping spiders. Seemed sort of preposterous but it is fun.

Rusty Mase

So did you try it?

I swear those little dudes are mini-tarantulas. G

K.

--
Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

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