Elf Mommy
Well-Known Member
I was woken up at 2 AM when one of these darn things was crawling across my shoulder.
This is the American Cockroach. Found in the south from about South Carolina all the way down to good old sunny Florida. For a size indicator, someone posted this:
The one crawling on me was probably only an inch and a half, but it gives you some idea.
I felt it, woke up and did a frenetic swish of my hand across my shoulder about 5 times, hurling the bug off of me. I sleep about 4 feet from the window, so it probably hit the curtain. I didn't swat it, I swept it off my shoulder. So the thing is still alive!!!
Here's the deal. These things FLY! Note the wings...
So I'm lying there in bed, now fully awake, panting. Listening for this critter, who I can hear buzzing about the room. I'm under the covers, sweating and totally awake. I hear it fly right over head so I put my face under the covers, too. Still....wide awake. I can't help but listen.
I know you're saying, "Just turn on the light and kill the thing, Minda." Yeah...well, normally that's what I do (although it's normally me screaming, turning on the light and running out of the room so hubby can do it). However, hubby has been placed on a heart monitor for 24 hours (he's been feeling some skipped beats), so I was trying soooooo hard not to wake the man up!!!
These things are scary, ok? It's the only thing that freaks me out this badly. They actually fly and run TOWARD you, because you're tall and they think you're a tree and safety! The DO bite (only when frightened, but I'm pretty sure I'm scaring the crap out of it if I'm flailing around when it lands on me)!
So....here I am. Up since 2 AM. I'll have to take a nap later, after I find the bugger and squish it!
sigh...All this wet weather makes them scurry inside.
This is the American Cockroach. Found in the south from about South Carolina all the way down to good old sunny Florida. For a size indicator, someone posted this:
The one crawling on me was probably only an inch and a half, but it gives you some idea.
I felt it, woke up and did a frenetic swish of my hand across my shoulder about 5 times, hurling the bug off of me. I sleep about 4 feet from the window, so it probably hit the curtain. I didn't swat it, I swept it off my shoulder. So the thing is still alive!!!
Here's the deal. These things FLY! Note the wings...
So I'm lying there in bed, now fully awake, panting. Listening for this critter, who I can hear buzzing about the room. I'm under the covers, sweating and totally awake. I hear it fly right over head so I put my face under the covers, too. Still....wide awake. I can't help but listen.
I know you're saying, "Just turn on the light and kill the thing, Minda." Yeah...well, normally that's what I do (although it's normally me screaming, turning on the light and running out of the room so hubby can do it). However, hubby has been placed on a heart monitor for 24 hours (he's been feeling some skipped beats), so I was trying soooooo hard not to wake the man up!!!
These things are scary, ok? It's the only thing that freaks me out this badly. They actually fly and run TOWARD you, because you're tall and they think you're a tree and safety! The DO bite (only when frightened, but I'm pretty sure I'm scaring the crap out of it if I'm flailing around when it lands on me)!
So....here I am. Up since 2 AM. I'll have to take a nap later, after I find the bugger and squish it!
sigh...All this wet weather makes them scurry inside.
