Steve Shimanek Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 So I went over to the shop yesterday to continue working on the shirasaya I was making for a sword I am polishing; as I grabbed a clamp on the work bench, there was a sudden scrambling near my elbow. As I quickly looked and stepped back, I saw a rather large rat climbing out of the parts bin on the bench! In the hasty search for a weapon, some moments were lost and the rat disappeared It is probably a good thing I did not even think about the sword close at hand. Later I realized that the previous night I had covered the work with 2 microfiber towels, which had disappeared...I found one under the work bench. I think the rat hauled them off to make a nest. If I see him today, I have something for him...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 That's what you get when you live in a tropical climate, lots of other life forms around to share your space and compete for food and microfiber towels. Do you have large cockroaches in American Samoa (2-3" long)? We did in Viet Nam and although it has been almost half a century the thought of them still gives me the willies. And don't get me started on giant centipedes. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 The biggest roach i have seen was about1 1/2 inches; I have seen coconut beetles about 3 inches long. I have seen centipedes about 5 to 6 inches long; man i hate those things! The wind knocked down a bunch of banana trees on one of my mower trails; when i cut up the truck of one, i found a centipede nest, mom and larvae underneath. good thing I used the machete instead of hands to pick up the trunk. I encourage wild chickens to hang out on the land, as they do eat a lot of bugs, even centipedes. Welcome home, brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 Steve & George N.M., Giant cock roaches can be found in Central America, and parts of South America. I am not sure of their size, in southern Florida. Centipedes, do, eat a lot of insects. They're not all bad. Check your socks and empty your boots. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 My mentor in Hawaii got hit by one who was in his welding glove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Yah, they like cozy places. And they are not the only insect that behaves that way. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 I got a black widow bite when I lived in TN. One of the more painful things I've experienced and I've been stabbed two different times, in motorcycle wrecks, and broken lots of bones skateboarding. I was moving some old tires in the backyard and grabbed one that was home to one of the little devils and she took issue with my finger being too close to her. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Steve, Just the idea of opening up a centipede nest gives me serious willies. While in RVN I got stung on the side of the hand by either a centipede or scorpion and my arm was numb for about 24 hours. It was like a super bee or wasp sting. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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