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I too think the mantis is a pretty cool insect, I mean some of their kind can kill a friggin Cobra snake for christ sakes. Thats impressive.

Centipedes/millipedes make my stomach turn in knots. I dunno what exactly it is about them, but they have to die if we cross paths. The worst for me though, is cockroaches. Seriously, the dread washes over me if I see one on TV. Im glad I live in the North, so unless your a real gross bastard....you dont get them. Even if I just quickly THINK a bug is a roach I get that warm burning sensation

When I was a kid I had to catch mantises for a school assignment

Back then we still had fields of tall grass where I could catch the bugs

So I ran into the tall grass


and came back out screaming my head off.

I didnt know they could fly :|

Bakerofish wrote:When I was a kid I had to catch mantises for a school assignment

Back then we still had fields of tall grass where I could catch the bugs

So I ran into the tall grass


and came back out screaming my head off.

I didnt know they could fly :|

Haha, brilliant way of finding out that is.

That used to be my pet Just unfolding her wings after molting ^^

I've read that the fear of spiders is actually an instinctive fear, that we inherited from our ancient ancestors. It's suspected that there may have been an extremely dangerous species of spider that existed at one point in our history. Evolving a natural fear of spiders was the body's way of getting us to stay away.

That doesn't explain me fearing something that:

A. Isn't actually a spider.
B. Isn't even venomous.

Long legs just freak me out.

Soladrin wrote:That doesn't explain me fearing something that:

A. Isn't actually a spider.
B. Isn't even venomous.

Long legs just freak me out.

You don't find it at all odd that nearly everyone has a fear of spiders?

Logic by definition is irrelevant when it comes to deep seated fears and phobias.

My fear of murky water probably has a similar cause.

Goddard wrote:

Soladrin wrote:That doesn't explain me fearing something that:

A. Isn't actually a spider.
B. Isn't even venomous.

Long legs just freak me out.

You don't find it at all odd that nearly everyone has a fear of spiders?

No because I only know 2 people who do, and they both have phobia's. (sister and aunt)

The thing that I grew up with as the "daddy long legs" is not a true spider at all... though it is an arachnid. I guess another common name is "harvestman". Eight long spindly legs but there is no discrete head section... the body/head is one object with the eyes (2) & mouth towards the front. Harvestmen have no venom or fangs and as such are completely harmless to humans.

They're the only arachnid I don't kill reflexively on sight.

I quite like spiders, mostly because I hate flies with a passion and they tend to keep the numbers of those down.

I dislike spiders ( and Camel Spiders but they ain't actual spiders, they are Camels/arachnids) but Daddy Long legs just ain't that scary, Preying Mantis deserve a place on the list of the most dangerous insects on the planet.

That is one big arachnids/Camel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solifugae

Camel Spiders aren't actual spiders...

Aye, they're Camels.

Clue is in the name, people.

If I was in the middle east and had to live with those things I would carry an AK-47 around just for personal protection. If its as big as my shoe, I'm going to shoot the hell out of it.

As an interesting fact, one of the bigger urban myths about the praying mantis is the fact that its illegal to kill them. A lot of people grow up hearing that its illegal to kill them, but guess what... its legal to do so.

I trod on one in the desert in '05. True story.

I love mantids, been my favorite insect species since forever. Really want to get a Giant Devil's Flower Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) as a pet...Not really afraid of spiders, just not a fan of having them near me unless I know for a fact that they aren't venomous, same with snakes and most other gribblies...

centipedes and millipedes though... You ever seen a grown man cry like a little schoolgirl? Like no kidding, the old cartoons where a housewife would see a mouse and jump on a chair screaming bloody murder? Yeah, me when it comes to 'pedes.

halonachos wrote:If I was in the middle east and had to live with those things I would carry an AK-47 around just for personal protection. If its as big as my shoe, I'm going to shoot the hell out of it.

As an interesting fact, one of the bigger urban myths about the praying mantis is the fact that its illegal to kill them. A lot of people grow up hearing that its illegal to kill them, but guess what... its legal to do so.

Most things about camel spiders are urban myths too.

Soladrin wrote:

halonachos wrote:If I was in the middle east and had to live with those things I would carry an AK-47 around just for personal protection. If its as big as my shoe, I'm going to shoot the hell out of it.

As an interesting fact, one of the bigger urban myths about the praying mantis is the fact that its illegal to kill them. A lot of people grow up hearing that its illegal to kill them, but guess what... its legal to do so.

Most things about camel spiders are urban myths too.

I know, but its my personal policy of how to deal with things. If its bigger than my foot and squasing it would make a huge pop, I would rather shoot the hell out of it. Like tarantulas, I'm not going to step on one of those I'm going to blow its hairy head off. And don't get me started on sharks, I'll shove a canister in its mouth and shoot the canister to kill those things.

Tarantulas are harmless :\

I mean look at the face, I have never seen another animal with a face that describes such a cold and malicious expression of pure calculated evil as the face of a praying mantis...

relative of mine had preying mantises hatch from their christmas tree one year........

so remember folks, buy the crappy looking fake ones, its the only way to be safe

You think mantises are bad, I'll take them anyday over horseflies and wasps.

Warble fly grubs...

greenskin lynn wrote:relative of mine had preying mantises hatch from their christmas tree one year........

so remember folks, buy the crappy looking fake ones, its the only way to be safe

That sounds like a scene from an old monster flick. That would creep me out. A good way of frightening the kids into being good in future though. Hey kids you better be good or not only will Santa not leave you any preasents he'll leave horrible, creepy insects that will hatch out of the tree and eat your face off.

I'm not a fan of most insects, I'm not exactly scared of them I just dont like them. Spiders are the worse for me though although I'm not as bad as my wife she is absoloutely terrified of them, I can cope just enough to catch them in a glass and release them outside, although sometimes they are too gribbly looking or the glass is not practical then it's vacum time or I shall become the avatar of El Splaticulus Roman god of squishing. Weirdly though my wife has held a tarrantula and I am less bothered by them than by any other spider. Odd really.

For me it's roaches, because they spread disease.

Soladrin wrote:Tarantulas are harmless :\

They still scare the living feth out of me, harmless or not they're creepy, obscenely large in some cases, and warrent a .45 to all 8 of their beady, black, soulless eyes.

halonachos wrote:

Soladrin wrote:Tarantulas are harmless :\

They still scare the living feth out of me, harmless or not they're creepy, obscenely large in some cases, and warrent a .45 to all 8 of their beady, black, soulless eyes.

I love you, do you love me

Jumping spiders are cutest animals alive btw.

I am not scared of spiders or any insect really. I do however, not like they crawling on me at all. Its not really fear I would say, it just feels so weird it causes me to freak out. Do not like it.

However, if it is dark out and I walk through a spider web? Every single spider I see for the next week can consider itself dead.

Soladrin wrote:Jumping spiders are cutest animals alive btw.

Yes, he is very cute. But I've Googled Camel Spiders and I think if I never cross ones path it'll be too soon - they're the insect embodiment of evil!