Well I'm sure you've all got them in your rooms across your house now haven't you?
Yes, the month of October has seen the usual infestation of what we call "Daddy Long Legs" - and what a pain in the arse they actually are!
Fresh from talking about big spiders, along come these freaksish looking things, and whilst not being afraid of them, they are just hanging around the walls of many houses, just sitting there watching you with their weird little eyes, in fact I'm sure they are there planning the big invasion.
You can see it now, they just wait for you to open a window or a door in your house, and as soon as they make it through they then whistle to their mates - in their own way of course - letting them know that they've made it, and to follow them, and so the next fleet arrive, just bimbling around your kitchen window seeing what creature comforts lies in wait for them.
Maybe they just want to get in to have a good look at that picture on the wall that was put up about 5 years ago that no-one looks at, but for them it's a chance to see something other than a garden fence!
In fact they are probably eyeing up that can of beer or glass of wine, thinking "wha-hey lads here we go, time to get pissed!" - perhaps that explains why they can't get awy when you grab it by the legs!
So, what is the point of Daddy Long Legs then?
Okay, well here's the boring bit - apparently they are also known as 'Crane Flies', and are (according to wikipedia) poor fliers and are prone to the old wobble in unpredictable patterns during flight - it's a bit like sitting in a plane with a Ryanair pilot at the controls.
You'll be delighted to know that they do not bite you, but sadly they don't bite mosquitoes either, they actually feed on Nectar, and no not the amber nectar drinking variety!
The unfortunate thing is once they become adults, their job is to simply mate and then die - what a life hey? I wonder if any of them become celibate, and refrain a good old 'how's your father' just so they can live a little bit longer??
Poor things, mind you, they're still a bleedin' pain in the arse, and have you reaching for the tea towel for a good old slap when they are found on your wall!
Tell me about your experiences with Daddy Long Legs!
umm that picture is not a daddy long legs, it's a mosquito hawk
ReplyDeleteWe get invasions of cupim (termites) here. When they hatch and take to the wing, they can fill a house in minutes. The invasion lasts about a half hour buzzing around lights and in your face then they lose their wings. That's when they decide they're hungry and start looking at the furniture and fittings.
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We get the invations of the months early in the morning(4.30am) and at night(9pm- 10ish)at this time of the month November to about march when it get cold.... lovely when you are trying to have a shower in the morning with the window slightly open to let out the steam from the shower or hace the door open at night to let in some cool air as the house is so hot you feel like you are in a bakers oven.
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