Saturday, September 12, 2009

Pass the Smelling Salts, Stat!

This is beyond disgusting, but THIS is what I found in the basement today when I was fiddling with the circuit breaker. Never mind that I had a house with only half the power on today, what's disturbed me most is that I'm apparently sharing my abode with these things (it's the second such creature I've found this week). Now don't make fun, because to me, it's so distressing, I can't even post the picture on this site to look at for days on end. If you're brave, you have to click the link. If you think you'll puke, don't look. I won't hold it against you because I would NOT click that link myself.

I'm telling you, this BEAST was gigantic and apparently carried its own luggage. When I smashed it with the closest thing to me, a giant suitcase, many tiny relatives tried to high tail it out of my way. They were smashed, too, although I had to change weapons to get to them. The mop came in handy.

Generally speaking, if you have more than 4 legs, you aren't welcome in my home. Ditto that if you have wings and a stinger.

Do you know what kind of beast this is? It's a wolf spider, and damned if it doesn't carry its offspring right on its body. Don't think that didn't surprise me. I thought I was watching the movie, Arachnophobia. Really.

I'm never going in that basement again.

Now pass the emesis basin. I think I'm going to be sick.

26 comments:

Darci said...

You poor thing. Did you get your power working later?

SkippyMom said...

I didn't click over 'cause I have a weak stomach anyway 0 but I can only imagine.

Your description is too telling, poor soul.

Hugs. Ick. Ick. Ick.

Rudee said...

Jade--we did finally get an electrician out at around 9 pm. There was a loose wire to the main circuit breaker. I sent him into the basement alone.

Thank you Skippy. It was gross.

Kathleen said...

oooooo...that's quite the hairy beast!

Hey, I can't say anything. I'm terrified of toads!

I say that multilegged wolf met its match with you!

Both come equipped with the "startle" gene.

Wolf spiders, away with you! Let Rudee have her basement back.

Mrs. G. said...

Did you mean to give me a frackin' heart attack when I clicked on that?

willowtree said...

I'm thinking you may not like it in Australia.

Jane said...

Don't think even my cats would eat that one for me!

Pyzahn said...

(gagging sound) I clicked before I read the whole post or I would have passed. I was thinking maybe a mouse. Now I have to go back to bed with that frightening image in my head.

Poor Rudee...how scary that must have been.

Anonymous said...

Maybe you need to get professional help.LOL
QMM

Gail said...

Miss Muffet has left the basement!

Rose said...

I'm trying to get the mice out of my kitchen right now. I think there's a family behind the stove but so far none caught. I've seen one ON the stove even! Gross!!!

Rudee said...

WT, probably not, but my hatred of insects is limited to spiders that carry their young on their backs. Don't think I didn't think of retribution while I slept.

Rudee said...

Kathleen, come to think of it, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me--as if a beast like that could make herself invisible--she was the size of a quarter in diameter and very tall for a spider. She must have needed a lot of clearance to carry her young. Oh. I can't even think about it.

Rudee said...

QMM, I need therapy after that.

Renie Burghardt said...

Poor Rudee!

Well, I said it before, country folk just don't get as freaked out about lurking critters as city folk. But that thing does look scary!

Rudee said...

Renie, their diet is not limited to other insects. They will feed off any kind of creature.

debra said...

They are huge! We get them with some frequency. BTW the vacuum cleaner works wonders :-)

Unknown said...

CollegeGrrrl found one of these in her sleeping bag at Girl Scout camp many years ago...the girl is still traumatized.

peggyln said...

I feel for you. The only critters allowed in my house are named! I had mice last winter and I am still traumatized. I slept with all the lights on. Call the exterminator.

Stephanie V said...

Yup...the vacuum cleaner is the weapon of choice. Wolf spiders are not uncommon here. I remember when I was little, my Dad used to call for a saddle when one would charge across a room.

laurie said...

those babiees have a nasty bite, i do believe.

at least it wasn't a rat.

sandy said...

hahaha, not to laugh at your pain and suffering, but this cracked me up. I love spiders. Send him my way, I'll put a leash on him and walk him around the neighborhood, haha.

The Crusty Crone said...

oh dear... (insert shrill scream here) things with a lot of hair and eight legs DO NOT BELOW IN THE HOUSE!

Geesh, and I can just imagine seeing Sandy walking her spider on a leash. cracked me up!!

Devon said...

I'm sooo sorry! These things are huge. I was walking with a school teacher friend of mine.. He loves everything about nature in a curious sort of way.

We came across this flattened, hairy carcus on the road and after much examination discovered it was a wolf spider.... I was so freaked!

What kind of spider looks like a mamal after being run over by a car?

Brenda said...

Sorry...I didn't look. I have enough disgusting things to look at cleaning our pool. I seem to be the only one brave enough to do the job here. Call a pest control asap....they do wonders!!!

Miss T said...

Make fun? Never. I would STILL be screaming. That thing is horrible!!