Do states have State Insects? Can these guys use the carpool lane?

I’m a long time lurker, first time commenter.

Thank you to all the blamers who live in places where the insects cannot be saddled and ridden. Your comments have me laughing so hard I cried. I’ve lived all my life in either Oklahoma, Florida or Texas, and big bugs just come with the territory. I often laugh at the irony here at IBTP, but this is just pure hilarious.

And by the way, I have seen many men (especially the young ones, lately) freak out, big time, over smaller bugs than this.

I’d just feel her bat, bat, batting and jumping over the covers and have to bolt up and catch the damn things with the covers while the Nigel went to go get the paper towels to dispose of the creature. Oh how the cat thought it was great fun, but I think I have PTSD and wake up freaked out now every time she bats anything on the bed. Still.

We live in OC California now, and the situation is marginally better. I’m content for the crawlies to stay on the floor or in shoes thank you very much, not in my bed. Horrifying.

Pinko Punko, if the gnats thing happens when you’re just drifting off to sleep, it may be a hypnagogic hallucination. I get ‘em, but with spiders. I wake up flailing and shouting “Spiders! Turn on the light!”, shaking out the blankets, and then realize that oh, there are no spiders. Then I go back to sleep while my Nigel tosses and turns, having been rudely awakened by all the shouting and flailing.