Make No Mistake: Romie is Extremely Territorial

[rinue]

A few days ago, I woke up to find hundreds of ants building a nest on my kitchen windowsill. I spent the next several hours smashing every single one individually with a putty knife, had Patrick pour boiling water all over the corpses and eggs just to make sure, and set out shot glasses of red-wine vinegar.

Now I am beset by dozens of tiny centipedes, which seem to be coming from nowhere in particular; I've found them in every single room of the house. Through trial and error, Patrick and I have found that the only good way to kill them is to behead them and then smash through the exoskeleton of the head to destroy any remaining nerve centers. Otherwise, they keep going. I maintain that they may be poisonous; Patrick is almost certain they are not. The putty knife is once again my best ally.

I don't understand what they want. I never find them near food, or water, or shelter. I have taken to leaving out the corpses of their fallen comrades, in the hopes that they will get the hint. After all, while I am grimly satisfied by my prowess as a killer, I would much prefer it if I didn't have to be.

Comments

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

I have taken to leaving out the corpses of their fallen comrades, in the hopes that they will get the hint.

I sympathize in bug-hatred, but I do love the way you put things.

[rhys-k.livejournal.com]

Actually... the corpses may be part of it. Not sure about centipedes. But I do know that ants emit a pheromone (or some type of smelly chemical like that) when they die that attracts other ants. Entomologists still aren't sure "exactly" why. Some theories say that it alerts the hive to dangers that they can the avoid or seek retribution on, and ants will carry thier dead back into the mound... whether to mourn or to devour in hopes of recycling needed nutrients... or both (possibly a cultural thing).

Anyway. That was my random flashback to the Discovery Channel for the day.

Much Love,
Jesse

[treehavn.livejournal.com]

had Patrick pour boiling water all over the corpses and eggs just to make sure

Due to my latent stupidity I read this wrong and conjured a mental picture of Patrick pouring a water and egg mixture over the dead ants, much like he was going to make an ant omelette. Which is just wrong, quite frankly.

centipedes! aaahhh

[tommx.livejournal.com]

i sympathize. as you know, centipedes are my one true phobia. the idea of being beset by baby centipedes is truly scary.

centipedes are technically venomous, but their venom is not typically fatal to humans unless they are allergic. centipede venom is about on the order of what you'd get from a bee sting, and about as painful.

good luck in your centipede killing. may the necessity for it pass soon.

Re: centipedes! aaahhh

[rinue.livejournal.com]

I knew that you of all people would understand. Patrick's current theory is that they are trying to migrate through our house to somewhere else and will be gone soon. (There has been a bit of a taper.)

love
Romie

ANTS HAVE RIGHTS

[(Anonymous)]

I represent Ants Have Rights (AHR) and we believe that your actions are prohibiting the from living a fruitful existence. Think about it...without ants who would disturb our picnics or construct random mounds of dirt. Have you thought about ant eaters...have you?

Sincerely,
Frank in Dallas