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| July 10, 2013 |
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Ignoring
Clint Eastwood's advice in "Dirty Harry" that
opinions, like certain body parts, are best kept to
yourself.
| Mosquitoes! |
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| They've been around
30 million years, and there are over 2,700 species. |
| More |
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I don't recall a year when mosquitoes have been as
bad as they are right now in Minnesota. Going outside is
something done at great personal risk, even in bright
daylight, and when you dash to your car, open the door and
jump in, you discover about a dozen of the little
blood-suckers are going with you for the ride.
We
live in a motorhome, and when you open the door to let the
dog in, the hitchhikers come along, some riding in the fur,
others fly along side. It is so bad, you wish you were back
in wood tick season, or could fast forward a few weeks, when
the flies take over. Even after the attack, and you about
knock yourself out trying to defend yourself, (I knocked my
glasses off the other day) your spidy-senses go on full
alert, as you scratch and swat, sometimes at even imaginary
raiders, you start thinking they are everywhere, probably
because they are.
Yesterday, I killed a couple
while taking a shower, they were full of blood, and then you
realize that was yours from a previous attack.
Mowing
the grass would help, but I don't dare attempt it, I might
not come back from the mission. Some tasks become downright
dangerous, thanks to these demons. I remember, on a fishing
trip, cleaning fish down by the dock, and defending myself
at the same time from incoming dive bombers, I darn near
stabbed myself with the filet knife.
 Last
year,
I
happened upon a website that sold a bug zapper
specifically designed for RV's, a 12 volt model that plugged
into a cigarette lighter (they call 'em something else now,
a "12 volt receptacle", but the size and shape of
the device is forever the same as the automobile cigarette
lighter.)
I couldn't PayPal the company $20 bucks
fast enough, and a few days later it arrived. I found a
perfect spot for it on top of the refrigerator, where one of
these 12 volt plug ins was conveniently located, and a small
brass hook that had waited years in my toolbox for this
occasion was screwed into the ceiling to hold it in place as
I careen down the road and around corners.
 The
darn thing works, once again this morning, I pulled out the
bottom tray and dumped out dozens of formerly thirsty
blood-sucking mosquitoes, all killed in the last few days.
In the end, mosquitoes will win, they were around
with the dinosaurs, and they'll be here long after mankind
has nuked itself off the planet. Meanwhile, zapping the
little buggers is such sweet revenge.
Global
Air Aviation Referral Service
I welcome
responses, and will be glad to post them here. Email your
remarks to
ron@global-air.com |
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Around here, it's the same thing except
they aren't mosquitoes. They are scorpions. I found that
sticky traps work. The traps catch all kinds of bugs (and
small varmints and rodents too). When the trap has flies and
mosquitoes in it the scorpions are even more likely to get
in there to have breakfast.
Just when you think
you have one pest controlled, along come two others: Western
Diamondback rattlesnakes and Javelina pigs. The pigs are not
likely to hurt you unless they are somewhat domesticated by
being fed, but they raise hell with the potted plants and
the garden projects.
The rattlesnakes tend to
sneak into the garage so that when you are looking for the
car jack stands or moving a box, there's a surprise waiting
for you. I haven't been bit, but it's been close a few
times. I usually throw a wet towel over the poor creature
and gather him up in a bucket and take him back out into the
desert a couple miles away. And then there are the
Coyotes.......the partying tricksters that are out to get an
evening meal, collaboratively. I guess if you're a coyote,
having a house cat for a snack is one of the best things you
can possibly do.
But if the African bees don't
kill you, the cactus will certainly try. I fell into a pit
of cactus trying to save my young son from it and we were
both seriously injured.
After all the precautions
about the wildlife, we got nailed by .............CACTUS?
That's almost embarrassing.
Gary - Tucson, Arizona
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