It is a small brown spider, no bigger than a 10-cent coin, lurking in a dark corner. A strange violin-shaped mark drawn on its back. therefore, its nickname is the “violinist spider.”
This small animal—generally measuring between 8 mm and 1.5 cm—belongs to the genus Loxosceles. It has only six eyes, whereas most of its congeners have eight. Its velvety, light brown body merges easily into its surroundings.
It turned out to be a Gaboon viper. I still thank my lucky stars I didn’t linger — had I stayed even a second longer or tried to reach for…
Read moreSome truly chilling facts: Size: Can grow up to 2 meters in length Weight: Up to 8 kilograms Fangs: A terrifying 5 centimeters — the longest fangs of any snake Venom: Potent enough to…
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A few weeks ago, I was out in the backyard battling my ancient, wheezy old lawnmower when something happened that made my skin crawl—literally. My golden retriever, Mochi, was stretched…
Read moreAt first, I assumed it was just another mosquito bite, nothing unusual. But when I glanced down, my stomach dropped. It wasn’t a mosquito. It was a tick. And not…
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Plaster bagworms, or kamitetep, are destructive household pests commonly found in warm, humid areas like closets, basements, and garages. Part of the same family as clothes moths, they are most…
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Did you know that when certain insects appear in your home, it might be more than random chance? Among them, the leaf hopper is not just a master of disguise…
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