Here are some of the creepy crawlies we had to contend with when I lived in Missouri. I tried my best to capture one of the giant Hercules Beetles that flew through the yard one day but couldn't catch up to it before it landed. My daughter was into etymology at the time and was putting together a bug collection for 4H. The Hercules Beetles are impressive in that they can fly at their size and weight. It sounded like a small plane going by when it passed. If I remember correctly, there are 8 types of venomous snakes there too. South Dakota is much more bug friendly and only a couple snakes to watch out for.
I beleive you about the Hercules beetle! Cool!
I don't mind most creepy crawlers BUT I will say that living in a place with winters both very cold and very long has its perks…most of the bigger creepy crawlies and reptiles and such simply cannot survive here (northern Saskatchewan).
It's the big spiders and venomous snakes in particular that I'm happy to not share real estate with haha. We do have the occasional garter snake (totally harmless and good pest control) up here, not as many as there were 50 years ago tho, and that's it for snakes. in the south of the province up against the borders of Montana and North Dakota we do of course have prairie rattlesnakes and a few others that are nonetheless very rare still, this place really is tough living for cold blooded animals. I think a wolf spider is about the biggest arachnid, and these huge water beetles are about the biggest bug of any kind here (those emporer dragonflies get pretty big I suppose but don't have bulk anything like these)
I HATE big spiders. I've always wanted to visit Australia but also….i think I better stay home
. While we're on the subject….@fordy
@Aussie Hunter Steve whats the creepiest crawlie or snake you've seen?
I've had close calls with both big aggressive dogs and big aggressive men, been closer than I'd like to black bears…and all of these things are very REAL threats to one's life if things go wrong, more so than any spider in this province…and none of these threats trigger the visceral, unconscious, reflexive TERROR AND REVULSION AND PANIC that I feel when I see a great big spider near me!!!!!
If I have to fight a man, a rabid dog, or a black bear, I know darn well there's a very good chance I am grievously injured or killed…..if I have to touch a huge spider odds are nothing happens…but I can tell you which one makes my heart pound out of my chest just thinking about it
memtb
