COLD DARK ROOM

[JaymeFrances]

Down here in New Orleans, the last 2 weeks in May are when the Formosan termites swarm, and they're going at it now!
The sexually mature males and females leave the nest and fly around to mate, then shed their wings and start a new colony. There are BAZILLIONS of the little critters swarming around at night and they find little nooks and crannies that enable them to get inside your house. They really are not a hazard to most homes because they like WET wood, which we try to avoid by properly grading the land before a house is built, not letting puddles of water stand by the house for weeks, repairing roof leaks promptly etc. In addition, many of us use pest control companies that inspect homes for termites about twice a year. So I'm not worried about our house at all.

But it's just creepy to find unexpected little bugs all over. This one is in the cover we put over food that we microwave. I find shed wings on my pillow and several in the tub. Something was wiggling and buzzing in my HAIR, and I brushed out some termite wings. Thank goodness it only goes on for about 2 weeks!!!!

View attachment 207755

This sounds like my idea of hell!! I can not stand bugs... I'd be locking myself away for those two weeks of every year!

 

[johnandjade]

good mornooning cold dark roommates

a wee bit king billy (chilly) this morning but looking like we may get another nice day


warfaces on, lets go kick bottom
\m/\m/

 

[JSWallace]

Down here in New Orleans, the last 2 weeks in May are when the Formosan termites swarm, and they're going at it now!
The sexually mature males and females leave the nest and fly around to mate, then shed their wings and start a new colony. There are BAZILLIONS of the little critters swarming around at night and they find little nooks and crannies that enable them to get inside your house. They really are not a hazard to most homes because they like WET wood, which we try to avoid by properly grading the land before a house is built, not letting puddles of water stand by the house for weeks, repairing roof leaks promptly etc. In addition, many of us use pest control companies that inspect homes for termites about twice a year. So I'm not worried about our house at all.

But it's just creepy to find unexpected little bugs all over. This one is in the cover we put over food that we microwave. I find shed wings on my pillow and several in the tub. Something was wiggling and buzzing in my HAIR, and I brushed out some termite wings. Thank goodness it only goes on for about 2 weeks!!!!

View attachment 207755

Wow that is really interesting and sort of nightmarish!

 

[JSWallace]

good mornooning cold dark roommates

a wee bit king billy (chilly) this morning but looking like we may get another nice day


warfaces on, lets go kick bottom
\m/\m/

Morning John, lovely sunny morning here but chilly too..

 

[johnandjade]

Morning John, lovely sunny morning here but chilly too..

good morning jane, how are you today?

 

[JoesMum]

Down here in New Orleans, the last 2 weeks in May are when the Formosan termites swarm, and they're going at it now!
The sexually mature males and females leave the nest and fly around to mate, then shed their wings and start a new colony. There are BAZILLIONS of the little critters swarming around at night and they find little nooks and crannies that enable them to get inside your house. They really are not a hazard to most homes because they like WET wood, which we try to avoid by properly grading the land before a house is built, not letting puddles of water stand by the house for weeks, repairing roof leaks promptly etc. In addition, many of us use pest control companies that inspect homes for termites about twice a year. So I'm not worried about our house at all.

But it's just creepy to find unexpected little bugs all over. This one is in the cover we put over food that we microwave. I find shed wings on my pillow and several in the tub. Something was wiggling and buzzing in my HAIR, and I brushed out some termite wings. Thank goodness it only goes on for about 2 weeks!!!!

View attachment 207755

Ooh interesting ... if something of a challenge for 2 weeks a year. It puts our ant swarms, usually a humid day or two in July, into scale

And our ants are purely nuisance value. Property checks aren't needed!

 

[JoesMum]

Good morning all. The sun is out!

Developments overnight. Daughter has found somewhere to live... a house-share in Southampton. It's available from June 1 so all she needs to do is sort a start date for work.

This morning we have to arrange her car service and MOT, her car insurance needs changing, she's due a dentist visit and all her pots and pans, etc from university need unearthing from the roof!

On top of that Son needs moving out of his flat share and back home, he doesn't have a car, on June 4.

Definitely needing the warface for the next couple of weeks; hope you don't mind sharing it John

 

[johnandjade]

Good morning all. The sun is out!

Developments overnight. Daughter has found somewhere to live... a house-share in Southampton. It's available from June 1 so all she needs to do is sort a start date for work.

This morning we have to arrange her car service and MOT, her car insurance needs changing, she's due a dentist visit and all her pots and pans, etc from university need unearthing from the roof!

On top of that Son needs moving out of his flat share and back home, he doesn't have a car, on June 4.

Definitely needing the warface for the next couple of weeks; hope you don't mind sharing it John

one out, one in


morning mum. glad you're getting the sun

 

[JoesMum]

This evening - key event!

Luton Town FC v Blackpool FC in the League 2 play-off semi final (2nd leg). Winner gets a shot at promotion to League 1. First leg ended with Blackpool leading 3-2 So Luton must win by 2 goals. C'mon you Hatters!

JoesDad was born in Luton - it's not a very trendy football (soccer) club to support otherwise.

We're heading up this afternoon, it's just north of London, and will meet son there. He can get there easily by train after work.

 

[Moozillion]

And this is also the season for "love bugs" (Plecia nearctica). They are a type of march fly that have massive swarms in late spring and again in late summer. They are smallish- 1 cm or so, but they mate end to end and STAY stuck together as they fly, drift around. So that makes the pair about 1 inch long. They don't bite or sting but have been "awarded" semi-pest status because they occur in such huge numbers. They crawl all over you when you're outside and are attracted to light colors, so white doors and walls attract ESPECIALLY large swarms! Getting into and out of stores and restaurants means running the gauntlet of these harmless little swarming bugs.
The biggest problem is that when you drive through a swarm of love bugs, which is absolutely unavoidable, they get squashed all over the front of your car, windshield and grill. Their bodies are slightly acidic, and if you leave the squashed bugs for more than an hour, they are VERY difficult to get off. The mild acidity and scrubbing can damage your car's paint. Besides, it's really gross to drive while peering through a mat of squashed insect bodies. During love bug season, it's best to wash at least the front half of your car DAILY to minimize damage. Happily, love bug season only lasts a couple of weeks each time.
If you are interested in bugs, mold and fungus, then come on down to Louisiana!!!!!

 

[JSWallace]

good morning jane, how are you today?

Hey John, I'm good! Nice warm sunny weather today..

 

[JoesMum]

And this is also the season for "love bugs" (Plecia nearctica). They are a type of march fly that have massive swarms in late spring and again in late summer. They are smallish- 1 cm or so, but they mate end to end and STAY stuck together as they fly, drift around. So that makes the pair about 1 inch long. They don't bite or sting but have been "awarded" semi-pest status because they occur in such huge numbers. They crawl all over you when you're outside and are attracted to light colors, so white doors and walls attract ESPECIALLY large swarms! Getting into and out of stores and restaurants means running the gauntlet of these harmless little swarming bugs.
The biggest problem is that when you drive through a swarm of love bugs, which is absolutely unavoidable, they get squashed all over the front of your car, windshield and grill. Their bodies are slightly acidic, and if you leave the squashed bugs for more than an hour, they are VERY difficult to get off. The mild acidity and scrubbing can damage your car's paint. Besides, it's really gross to drive while peering through a mat of squashed insect bodies. During love bug season, it's best to wash at least the front half of your car DAILY to minimize damage. Happily, love bug season only lasts a couple of weeks each time.
If you are interested in bugs, mold and fungus, then come on down to Louisiana!!!!!

The worst we get in the UK is a sunny day when all the bugs seem to think it's a good idea to fly over the nearest motorway and commit suicide on your windscreen. They are awful to remove, I agree (John will be the expert)

We had a particularly bad problem in Germany once with mosquitoes and could barely see through the windscreen. A very nice gentleman leant us a spray bottle of something that shifted them instantly and allowed us to continue our journey. Unfortunately, I never did find out what it was. My German wasn't good enough!

 

[johnandjade]

And this is also the season for "love bugs" (Plecia nearctica). They are a type of march fly that have massive swarms in late spring and again in late summer. They are smallish- 1 cm or so, but they mate end to end and STAY stuck together as they fly, drift around. So that makes the pair about 1 inch long. They don't bite or sting but have been "awarded" semi-pest status because they occur in such huge numbers. They crawl all over you when you're outside and are attracted to light colors, so white doors and walls attract ESPECIALLY large swarms! Getting into and out of stores and restaurants means running the gauntlet of these harmless little swarming bugs.
The biggest problem is that when you drive through a swarm of love bugs, which is absolutely unavoidable, they get squashed all over the front of your car, windshield and grill. Their bodies are slightly acidic, and if you leave the squashed bugs for more than an hour, they are VERY difficult to get off. The mild acidity and scrubbing can damage your car's paint. Besides, it's really gross to drive while peering through a mat of squashed insect bodies. During love bug season, it's best to wash at least the front half of your car DAILY to minimize damage. Happily, love bug season only lasts a couple of weeks each time.
If you are interested in bugs, mold and fungus, then come on down to Louisiana!!!!!

bugs on cars i can relate too! a good sealent protects paint and makes easier to wash off, i can send some if you like?

 

[johnandjade]

Hey John, I'm good! Nice warm sunny weather today..

woohoo

 

[johnandjade]

The worst we get in the UK is a sunny day when all the bugs seem to think it's a good idea to fly over the nearest motorway and commit suicide on your windscreen. They are awful to remove, I agree (John will be the expert)

We had a particularly bad problem in Germany once with mosquitoes and could barely see through the windscreen. A very nice gentleman leant us a spray bottle of something that shifted them instantly and allowed us to continue our journey. Unfortunately, I never did find out what it was. My German wasn't good enough!

a good trick is to use steel wool or brilo pad on glass

 

[Yvonne G]

a good trick is to use steel wool or brilo pad on glass

No! We had a brand new Pinto station wagon in the '70s and I wanted to try to get some hard water stains off the windshield, so I scrubbed a small area with a Scotchbrite pad (plastic pot scrubber pad). It scratched the glass horribly!

 

[JoesMum]

a good trick is to use steel wool or brilo pad on glass

I use a non-scratch scouring pad. We use them in the aquarium too

 

[Moozillion]

bugs on cars i can relate too! a good sealent protects paint and makes easier to wash off, i can send some if you like?

The car washes over here use some sort of special wax or coating that helps a bunch. Thanks for the offer!

 

[Moozillion]

The worst we get in the UK is a sunny day when all the bugs seem to think it's a good idea to fly over the nearest motorway and commit suicide on your windscreen. They are awful to remove, I agree (John will be the expert)

We had a particularly bad problem in Germany once with mosquitoes and could barely see through the windscreen. A very nice gentleman leant us a spray bottle of something that shifted them instantly and allowed us to continue our journey. Unfortunately, I never did find out what it was. My German wasn't good enough!

Mosquitoes are MISERABLE!!!!
It's a shame you didn't find out what that repellant was- I think it would be worth a mint!!!!

 

[JaymeFrances]

All this talk of bugs is making me twitchy...