(no subject)

[eirias]

There is a pigeon horntail crawling around our kitchen window in confusion. It's outside, but somehow got to the inside of the screen (our windows are effed up; don't ask). It's a pretty scary looking bug, but as with the last scary bug to grace our yard, the long poky bit is an ovipositor; these guys don't sting.

Even knowing that, I find myself a little creeped by the idea of letting it crawl on my hand, like the guy in the photo. If it were some color combination other than "dark with yellow stripes," however, I don't think I would feel as strongly about it. Is this evidence for biologically-prepared fear triggers, or just a learned response to that color scheme? Either way I think it's kind of neat -- this gut reaction that I can examine, but not easily change.

Comments

[ksledgemoore.livejournal.com]

I used to be most terrified of bees and wasps...and maybe I still am, but I don't see them so often. Now I am extremely terrified of mosquitoes. Whenever there is one loose, I end up with at least 3 bites. If there are a lot of them around, I'll get a dozen or more. They get really big and take forever to go away. Sometimes they look like bruises as they heel. If I notice one in my room as I am trying to go to bed, I simply put on bug spray. That is pretty gross to sleep in, but it's better than the alternative (getting bitten and/or not being able to fall asleep due to my crazy fear.)