Did you think the spider in the ear was an urban legend?

**Octo** · 08-10-2012, 11:22 AM

The urban legend of being infested with spiders came horribly true for a woman admitted to China's Changsha Central Hospital.

She had woken five days earlier after a hard round of home renovations with an itchy ear.

She didn't know why.

The itch got worse. Much worse.

Eventually, she took herself to hospital to find out the cause.

She was diagnosed as having a case of arachnid - that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.

http://www.news.com.au/world/chinese-wom...6447298544

İmage

**JayRodney** · 08-10-2012, 11:45 AM

I can't even read this or look at the pics, bad case of arachnophobia. Of course I know it's irrational but theres not much I want to do to snap myself out of it.
What would it take? A big fuzzy pet tarantula? Sleep with it at night?

**Accidental Stoner** · 08-10-2012, 03:36 PM

**UniqueStranger** · 08-10-2012, 03:48 PM

I too have always had a fear of spiders. In my case it was probably learned from my older sister who freaked out histerically when near a spider.

Anyway, I faced my fear and over years I can now capture them and release them outside WHERE THEY BELONG!

So, JR, getting a defanged tarantula doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Don't stress out your tarantula.

**Upāsaka** · 08-10-2012, 08:17 PM

Time for the ear bleach!

I was trimming the hazelnut bush in the garden the other day. Afterward I was getting ready for a shower, as I took off my top and there was an earwig climbing up my shoulder, and to my mind toward my ear! and set up home! After attacking it and myself, as if it was the alien from alien. It fell to the floor and scuttled away.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/ow...earwig.htm

Quote:"Earwigs are so named because they crawl into sleeping people's ears and eat their brains."

Status: False.

Historical examples:

"It appears to be a common belief almost everywhere that the Earwig creeps into the ears of persons sleeping in the open air, passes thence into the brain, and causes death."

— A Natural History of the Animal Kingdom by William Sweetland Dallas, 1856

"Ear-wig, or Forficula auricularis, L. a well known insect, which has received its name from penetrating into the human ear, where it causes the most acute pains, and even, as some have asserted, eventual death."

— The Domestic Encyclopedia by Willich and Mease, 1803

"The creature called forficula or earwig is said to make its way into the ear, and to occasion not only deafness, but violent pain by its biting; and there is an instance on record of a woman, in whose ear a nest of these infects were lodged, and reduced her to the greatest distress."

— A Practical System of Surgery by James Latta, 1795

Analysis: While there is some dispute over the linguistic origin of the name "earwig" (see below), there's no disagreement among entomologists as to the veracity of the insect's fabled fondness for entering the human ear and boring into the brain, thereby causing insanity and/or death: it's balderdash.

"There is no truth to this myth," writes John Meyer, professor of entomology at North Carolina State University.

"In fact," says master gardener Judy Sedbrook of the Colorado State Cooperative Extension, "other than an occasional pinch, earwigs can't harm people."

"Though they may try to pinch if captured and handled, they do not harm people," confirms the Iowa State University Dept. of Entomology.

**yankees** · 08-10-2012, 08:21 PM

**Octo** · 08-10-2012, 08:22 PM

Prometheus Wrote:After attacking it and myself, as if it was the alien from alien.

I don't know if you own a flame thrower but that's what I envisioned.

**Upāsaka** · 08-10-2012, 09:14 PM

It was more like this

**UniqueStranger** · 08-10-2012, 09:20 PM

One of my fav scenes.

**Octo** · 08-10-2012, 09:35 PM

**Octo** · 08-10-2012, 10:32 PM

(08-10-2012, 03:48 PM)UniqueStranger Wrote: I too have always had a fear of spiders. In my case it was probably learned from my older sister who freaked out histerically when near a spider.

Anyway, I faced my fear and over years I can now capture them and release them outside WHERE THEY BELONG!

So, JR, getting a defanged tarantula doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Oh it's not that bad. When I scream "OMG SPIDER!!!" he deals with it in a manly way.

**Accidental Stoner** · 08-10-2012, 10:35 PM

(08-10-2012, 09:14 PM)Prometheus Wrote: It was more like this

Those were the days...

**UniqueStranger** · 08-11-2012, 12:29 AM

Some tips for you JR.

08-11-2012, 01:06 PM

well if you
lick the glue on envelope, you can get roach eggs

I seen a a person cut the tongue on an envelope , and the eggs hatched in the mouth

**Octo** · 08-11-2012, 01:53 PM

Thanks for the info on that.

Not many roaches in these parts but if we had them I wouldn't want them in my mouth, ewww.