Hi Sue I know it's July but could it have been a Maybug? They are fairly large and solid and as John says, "lousy with fleas" Hugs Jean Oz > Tonight - I've had a big shock ... It was an insect in my kitchen .. > Believe > me - when I tell you - I've never seen any insect like this before ... > > Time - about 3.30am --- > > It was 'walking' round the base of a table light I have in my kitchen - > not > exactly 'flying' but I could see wings - but not on it's back - like a > butterfly or moth - more like 'tucked-in' like a ladybird ... > > But the strangest thing was - that it was hairy --- dark / light - brown - > but not exactly yellow - more a dark dirty beige colour ... > > It was about 2cm long and 'fat' 1cm wide --- although this could have been > just my imagination --- it probably was more like 1.5cm by 0.5cm --- still > large - by my standards anyway ... > > I didn't hang around examining it closely - instead I grabbed some kitchen > roll and squashed it in my fingers - and then gave it a real good > squashing > .. > > Then I opened the kitchen roll and took a look - "was it dead?" - was it > heck - it was still wriggling - and it had something strange about it --- > I > sqashed it harder - even using the back of a teaspoon ... > > I opened the package up again - and yes - this time - I think it was dead > .. > But the strange things were still there - and they weren't dead ... There > looked like tiny thripes on it - red - crawling --- or at least they > looked > as if they were crawling to me ... Urgh .... > > I hurriedly shut the package up again - got a plastic bag - and put the > package in it --- I then tied a tight knot in the plastic bag - and threw > it > in the dustbin ... > > Afterwards - I was itching like mad - so took a shower ... > > Now does anyone out there have any ideas as to what this could be .. ? > .... > It was unlike any insect I've seen before --- a sort of a 'cross' between > a > wasp/bee and a moth - obviously drawn to the light --- or it could have > been > there to feed on the hundreds of storm flies which congregate round that > table light at night ... Either way round - it's not doing it anymore --- > not in my house it won't ... > > We've had some really high temperatures --- could this be a "foreign" > insect > ? - or just one I've never seen before ... They have been cutting the > harvest round here this past few days - could this have come from there > ... > ? ... And finally - do insects have parasites like these red-thripe like > thingies .. ? ....... > > Thank you ...... > > Sue > [who is still itching] > > > > > ==== GEN-TRIVIA-ENG Mailing List ==== > RANDOM TAGLINE - GEN-TRIVIA-ENG - MAILING LIST > Before you sent your mail - > Please cut out as much of previous messages as is appropriate - and > Please change the Subject Line if the Topic has changed. > >