E.B. White on Why He Wrote Charlotte's Web

[garbon]

I liked when I had that one dorm room where baby spiders were crawling all around. Finally made me be a bit more sane with regards to my arachnophobia.

[Malthus]

If I see one talk or write messages in its web, perhaps I'll reconsider.

Is that from an ad for birth control pills? 

[viper37]

The arthropods that really freak me out, and I'd happily consider DDTing the whole place for, are house centipedes.  Had them bad in an old apartment, but I've seen two or three here.  Those fuckers, while disturbing to look at, are actually pretty innocuous (they can bite but are not venomous) and in general they're of a cautious disposition, so they do their best to stay in the edges of rooms.  Unfortunately, they also consider the ceiling to be an "edge."  And sometimes they loose their footing.

I understand how you feel.  I'd want them out of my house too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKUVAOD0PnE

[Ideologue]

House centipedes are only about 2cm long, not "as long as [my] arm."

[Ideologue]

Also: WHY IS THAT GUY DOING THIS?

[Syt]

[Malthus]

House centipedes are only about 2cm long, not "as long as [my] arm."

No - they range from 1 to 4 inches (that is, 10 cm).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutigera_coleoptrata

You don't forget a 4 incher in a hurry. 

[garbon]

They also should stay out of my way.

[Ideologue]

House centipedes are only about 2cm long, not "as long as [my] arm."

No - they range from 1 to 4 inches (that is, 10 cm).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutigera_coleoptrata

You don't forget a 4 incher in a hurry. 

I guess most the ones I saw were small.  Could've been an inch, inch and a half.

Does the length count antennae?

[mongers]

Spiders get a welcome here, as they ensure there are no flies, mosquito and the like about.   

[Ideologue]

Gee you know what's exactly as threatening and scary as a spider?  A gnat.

[Malthus]

House centipedes are only about 2cm long, not "as long as [my] arm."

No - they range from 1 to 4 inches (that is, 10 cm).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutigera_coleoptrata

You don't forget a 4 incher in a hurry. 

I guess most the ones I saw were small.  Could've been an inch, inch and a half.

Does the length count antennae?

Nope. Body length.

That said, the pottery studeo had the perfect conditions for growing truly champion house centepedes: in some places it was permanently damp (to stop clay from drying out too fast), lots of dark places, lots of nooks and crannies, etc.

In normal houses, centepedes get detected before they reach full 10 cm size.

[Ideologue]

Perhaps, assuming "detected" is euhpemism for "killed with a broom."

I liked the last line of the Wiki article:

It should be noted that they are a non-toxic, safe method of pest control, as house centipedes prey on other arthropods.

Oh, noted.  And snakes kill rats.  I should infest my house with snakes.

[mongers]

Gee you know what's exactly as threatening and scary as a spider?  A gnat.

My post was from the viewpoint of infectious agents these creatures carry, flies are not good. 

Fun thing about increasing temperatures here, it's predicted that malaria carrying mosquitoes might make a comeback in another couple of decades.   

[Malthus]

Perhaps, assuming "detected" is euhpemism for "killed with a broom."

Yup. 

I liked the last line of the Wiki article:

It should be noted that they are a non-toxic, safe method of pest control, as house centipedes prey on other arthropods.

Oh, noted.  And snakes kill rats.  I should infest my house with snakes.

Well, on the plus side, the snakes and centepedes will also discourage unwanted human visitors.