by Leigh Goessl

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: July 16, 2008

I've lived in the northeastern region of the U.S. for most of my years, but a couple of years back we relocated to the mid-Atlantic southern region. All in all, it's been a positive move and we've experienced many wonderful things.

Of course anytime something positive occurs, there is usually something else to accept as a trade-off which ain't as sweet as honey and biscuits. Being new to the south, I learned that with the loveliness comes some ugly stuff to contend with too. BUGS! Funky bugs, big and small. Now we had bugs in the north, but the ones in the south are something else!

Our houseguests were icky little flying red beetles, brilliantly colored, but icky just the same. The first week we began to move in they appeared and took up residence in two of the bedroom windows. At first we left them alone since they were confined between the glass pane and the screen, figuring we'd be a bit hospitable and besides, we had other moving priorities.

All was peaceful, I just pulled down the shades to make them go away and all was good. However, those red buggers quickly wore out their welcome when they invited all of their friends and family to stay. Not only did they bring company, but they decided to wheedle their way into the den and another bedroom's windows too.

They were obviously getting in from outside, but dangit, from where?

One day as I was scrutinizing their habits and to see if I could detect the "door", I saw their secret entrance! I didn't want to spray because I believe most bugs should be given a chance to hit the high road before they get whacked, so I took measures to barricade it off, hoping this would do the trick. It failed miserably. Geez these bugs just couldn't take the hint they were unwelcome.

Turns out there were more entrances than one because after blocking it up, those pesky buggers still managed to find a way to squiggle those crusty little bodies in. At this point, the weather was still a bit cold, so they'd freeze to death over night and we'd get rid of them in the morning, but those bugs just kept coming back.

Day after day I watched to see if I could unlock the deepest, darkest secrets of our wretched little winged and feeler friends to see if they'd trust me enough to reveal the clandestine doorway to the great outdoors. My plan was to gain their trust so we could lock em out once and for all. I'm still trying to figure out this puzzle, but in the meantime, I've learned some nifty new things.

Gosh those bugs sure do like to mate! Day

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>