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In a message dated 5/29/02 10:40:48 PM Central Daylight Time,
rambler@... writes:


> Well, in reality, spiders are not even insects; they are in the same phylae
> (or is it genus, or something? I can never remember) as crabs and
> lobsters. So I believe you're probably technically correct; although I am
> not familiar with exactly which of the particualr name-brands of crabs are
> the largest.
>

Roly-poly bugs or Pill bugs (the ones that live in basements, under porches
or any cool damp place. They roll up if touched. The kids have a blast making
them do that!) are also related to lobsters and are technically not insects
but crustaceans. Daddy Long Legs are not really spiders either. I have heard
different people say that Daddy Long Legs have some of the most poisonous
venom known to man but since their jaws are so small and not strong enough,
they couldn't even bite a human, though I have not seen documented proof on
this claim.
~Nancy


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Fetteroll

on 5/30/02 2:10 AM, Dnowens@... at Dnowens@... wrote:

> Roly-poly bugs or Pill bugs (the ones that live in basements, under porches
> or any cool damp place. They roll up if touched.

We've got boring ones here in Mass. The ones back in PA did that but the
ones here are underacheivers. They just curve a bit. Maybe I should bring
some real ones back with me next time I visit Pittsburgh to show them how
it's supposed to be done!

> I have heard
> different people say that Daddy Long Legs have some of the most poisonous
> venom known to man

Someone just mentioned that somewhere. Two good sites for checking out
rumors are Snopes and The Straight Dope:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdaddy.html

http://www.snopes2.com/ (Snopes uses java so I can't link directly to the
page. You'll need to type in "daddy longlegs" in the search.)

Joyce

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In a message dated 5/30/02 6:02:36 AM Central Daylight Time,
fetteroll@... writes:


> We've got boring ones here in Mass. The ones back in PA did that but the
> ones here are underacheivers. They just curve a bit. Maybe I should bring
> some real ones back with me next time I visit Pittsburgh to show them how
> it's supposed to be done!

We have giant ones! Almost an inch long and almost as fat as a #2 pencil. We
have bunches of little ones too, but the big ones scare me. A book I read
said they live for years, molting every few months... ewwww. I just don't
like bugs and Jack drags home every book he finds and loves to find the
nastiest, uckiest buggers to drop in front of me!
He found one particular specimen hanging on our screen door this morning. It
is something I have never seen and is currently in one of those miniature
plastic aquariums with the ventilated lid, sitting on our kitchen window
sill. If Dad doesn't know what it is, and an exhaustive search of our many
bug books earlier turned up nothing (?!) we are going to take it to Washburn
or KU. It looks like a cross between a praying mantis, a roach, and a
grasshopper. It is really long, (three and one half to four inches?) has
wings, huge mandibles, (looks like it could chop a finger in half!) that
stick out from its head looking like giant pinchers. All in all, it is one
nasty looking dude, I cannot wait to get it Out-Of-My-House!!!
~Nancy~ who went to bed with the heebie-jeebies and woke up with a giant one
in her face! :O


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In a message dated 5/30/02 9:06:26 AM, Dnowens@... writes:

<< It is really long, (three and one half to four inches?) has
wings, huge mandibles, (looks like it could chop a finger in half!) that
stick out from its head looking like giant pinchers. >>

There are some big scary bugs named after the plants their moms tend to want
to eat. I can't remember what ended up being the scariest one I ever saw,
but it was named after some tree around us. And it was big and looked like
some 11 year old boy had made it up, doodling monster-bugs.

But look at the ugliness of squash bugs, potato bugs, and tomato worms!
Whatever he is, I bet he's named after something pretty. <g>

Sandra