On Thursdays, the preschool visits the elementary school library and is able to select one book. This is a highlight of the week and the Caboose is always excited to choose. Usually he brings home a book dedicated to motorized machinery; loaders, graders, or dumptrucks. This week he chose a little differently:
I do not like earwigs. I detest earwigs. Of all the bugs on this earth, earwigs are my LEAST favorite (after lice, ticks, fleas, roaches, chiggers, bedbugs, and mosquitos - but only because mosquitos suck my blood and leave itchy wounds behind).
Earwigs creep me out. They are hard to kill. They are quick and always seem to be waiting for me when I pick flowers or dig in the garden. They are aggressive and they bite. Dave never believed me on this until he attended a required Pesticide class and came home saying, "Yes, Karmyn, you were correct, earwigs pinch." JUSTIFIED.
So, the Caboose proudly showed me his newest library book and we sat down to read. I am a good mother and smiled as we began the read. yes....a very good mother......
Until I turned the page and read THESE words:
EARWIGS HAVE WINGS? Did I read that correctly? They have wings and can fly? OH, imagine my horror knowing this fact. I was HAPPY in my life not knowing this information. And all this time when we camped I figured they got on the top of the tent by crawling up the trees and dropping on us. NO - they were flying the ENTIRE time.
Just looking at the picture makes me itch....makes me scratch behind my ears and check my clothing to look for escaped earwigs. And now I feel the need to look up in the sky to watch for any loose earwigs buzzing around my head, searching for a good landing spot. Earwigs have wings. I am almost in a panic.
Earwigs do not fly a lot. That does ease my mind, but only a tiny little bit....just a smidgeon.
Next week I hope the Caboose brings home a book on something sweet, like butterflies or Garbage trucks.
I never thought of earwigs as flyers either..thanks for sharing:(
Posted by: Far Side of Fifty | January 16, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Oh damn, I've got the heebie jeebies now. We brought one of those home from our recent trip to Oregon. I encased him in packing tape before disposing. Yuck.
Posted by: mark | January 16, 2012 at 08:37 PM
I like the caboose, he'll make a good naturalist!
Posted by: johng | January 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM
The story about the earwig that Dad swallowed has prevented me from drinking out of water hoses. I don't like them either, especially when I'm camping!
Posted by: Amanda | January 17, 2012 at 12:33 PM