Well, the Widow is under attack. Not by just one invader, but several!
The invasion started with lots and lots of rain. I welcomed the first six inches, but after the next ten inches, I knew that there would be an invasion of one culprit, the bigger than bats divebombing Mosquitoes.
As expected, the Mosquitoes came. They hovered under the trees during the day time, so they could divebomb me if or when I walked outside to sit in the shade. At night they thrilled at swarming around the doors, to trap me inside the house and act as watchdogs to keep all visitors at bay. In retaliation, I bought Mosquito spray and fog then sprayed it on my patio, so that I could sit outside in peace without hearing their squealing dive bombing attack noise.
With the Mosquitos “seeming to be under control” until it rains another two thousand inches, I was not impressed when the Wasps came. Overnight it seemed like there were Wasps everywhere. The Wasps surprised me because I had bleached the white siding on my home a month ago and while doing so had destroyed all Wasps nests that I saw.
Do these suckers build nests overnight, or what? I have a glass storm door on the back of my house that leads to the back yard, and they made a Wasp nest on the glass. I found two more softball size Wasp nests near the back door and two the same size under the patio. Are these Wasps from another planet? There is a Wasp spray that shoots out stuff twenty feet away from the shooter. The spray looks like milky-foam stuff, and you can believe me when I say that those dudes are now milky white colored.
Okay, temporarily the Mosquitoes and Wasps are under control, but you betcha I am armed and ready with Cutter and Wasp spray. This preparation makes me happy.
Two days ago, I went out on to the patio to drink my morning coffee when something crawled onto my arm then something fell in my hair. Web Worms! Dagnabbit Web Worms! Of course! Huge Pecan trees surround my home, and Web Worms love Pecan trees. Since there were just a few of the Web worms, I just brushed them away and didn’t think any more about it.
Wrong! I was so wrong! Those suckers have invaded the patio, and when I look out the back door, it looks like Webworm rain is falling from the trees. These things are covering my patio door just waiting for an opening to come inside the house. Gee Willickers, give me a break!
Today, I Googled, “How to get rid of Web Worms?” besides stomping them with my flipflop. I found a non-toxic, safe formula on one blog. The “formula” consists of two ingredients dish detergent and water.
Don’t waste your time! I tried to drown those little crawlers with that solution, but they just swam in it then crawled away.
Okay, I tried to be friendly, and since I don’t plan on doing the” Texas Flipflop Killer Stomp” for hours on the patio, I pulled out the Cutter, attached it to my hose, and resprayed the creepy crawlers once again.
Will it work? I don’t know because I am hiding out inside the game room typing this Blog.
Well, I am back, and the new love of my life is Cutter. I am sure there will be flack from people who want to save the Web Worm, but I am sure there are many more in the Pecan trees. Oh, and by the way, the birds will not eat these worms because I will sweep them up then give them a decent burial. If you would like, we can even have a ceremony, but not under the Web Worm-Raining Pecan Trees.
Wondering what the next invader will be, and praying three is the charm.
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Golly Gee Wilikers, dagnabit…what an invasion…just read your blog. Try this to attract dragonflies, who eat mosquitos. Not sure what to do about the other invaders except your trusty Cutters method…lol. I’m cohabitating with the wasps, but their nests are on the rafters of my deck. They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them. I did hose them down last year, but as you say in your blog, they build back fast. We seem to have come to an agreement… smile.
https://livelovefruit.com/10-plants-that-attract-dragonflies-for-mosquito-control/?fbclid=IwAR2HVWh3WfnYceFHWAVKZ3aL6BiXQZbkzyT0wPTTnGkURZG0zqB0GqEBI0E
Thank you for your comment, MaryRae. I have heard there is a plant that also repels the mosquitoes from around your home. I really need to look into something else. The Cutter only lasts until it rains again.
I hope I made you laugh.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
OF COURSE the skeeters are huge…EVERYTHING in Texas is bigger…lol….glad you are holding your own against the invaders
Thank you, Kim. We really do have two different size Mosquitoes. Lol. I am sure where you live, you are fighting the same battle. It seems this is the year for the insect, but I am hearing people are having lots of different kinds of snakes too.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your ability to describe reality always brings memories to my mind.
Thank you.
This post relates to many past experiences, especially from my days in the Southern Califonia Desert with Crickets.
Thank you, Chuck. Your story about crickets reminds me of my Grandmother’s home in Hico, Texas. We use to walk downtown at night in the Summer and the sidewalks and windows would be covered with crickets. Thank you for sharing your memories.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Nancy try these around borders .They are easy to grow.
Marigolds, an easy-to-grow annual flower, emit a smell that deters mosquitoes. … Marigolds are also a popular addition to borders and vegetable gardens. According to NYBG, not only can they keep away mosquitoes, but they also dissuade aphids, thrips, whiteflies, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, and tomato hornworms.
Thank you so much Stephen. I will definitely try the Marigolds. I had forgotten about them. Frank and I use to plant them in our vegetable gardens to keep away insects.
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
Wow! You have been at war. Where I lived years ago I had a picture window with an awning. The wasps used to make their nests up in the corner and they just kept coming back. I also had a clothesline on a pulley because the ground dropped at one point and I had to lower and raise it to use it. The wasps nested in the pulley and drop out when I used it.
If you get an invasion of ants at any time, I have read that they do not like cinnamon so if you get them indoors, sprinkle some where they come in and they will go right back where they came from. There may be other insects that don’t like cinnamon too. Others don’t like peppermint.
I remember a couple of different years when June bugs covered the sidewalks and filled the small trees at dusk. It was horrible.
Here’s hoping you don’t get any further invasions of anything of that sort. But at least it gave us opportunity to laugh. 🙂
Diane, I have heard that about cinnamon, too. I am so glad this post makes people laugh. I see humor in all I do. I really think humor is our best coping skill.
Not sure if the Cutter will repel the Web Worms like it does Mosquitoes, but time will tell.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for the chuckle. 🙂
The post about Marigolds was spot on. Another suggestion is to set up some bird houses for Purple Martins. Mosquitoes are their main dish.
Thank you for commenting. I love birds and birdhouses. I will definitely try this. I love to do things in a non chemical safe environment way.
God Bless You,
Nancy