Aussie wildlife finally got me!

MortonH · #1 04-10-2014, 09:07 PM

Next month I'll have been living in Australia for ten years. When I first arrived I was rather apprehensive about the inordinate number of Australian creatures that might cause me pain, injury or death. But within a few months I had gotten used to most of them and come to realise that there really wasn't all that much to worry about (despite the incident very early on where a Huntsman happened to be sitting on a light switch as I fumbled for it in the dark).

Well, tonight I spent some time sitting on the balcony observing the Moon with my SV66ED. About 15 minutes ago I felt a sharp pain in my big toe, then a slight sensation of wetness. I went indoors and turned on the light to find a bee half squashed under my foot. I guess the bee was on the balcony floor and I accidentally stood on it.

The pain only lasted a couple of minutes but it was quite intense. I've removed the sting and the toe looks ok. Pretty sure I'm not allergic since I've been stung before, although only by UK bees and wasps.

So, ten years in Australia and I've finally been "got"

omegacrux (David) · #2 04-10-2014, 09:14 PM

Good thing it was a bee and not a drop bear eh?
Those things are dangerous !

David

sheeny (Al) · #3 04-10-2014, 09:18 PM

The aussie wildlife isn't so bad is it? We don't have any bears, or big cats, rogue elephants, or hippopotami. OK, we have crocs up north, but in the scheme of things I think Australia is safer than most continents.

Shame about the bee... accidents happen. Bee stings never used to worry me so much as a kid, but each sting I've had has progressively been worse than the previous. I wouldn't say I'm allergic to them, but its not a good trend to have happening!

Al.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #4 04-10-2014, 09:18 PM

A bee?!? Does that qualify

Surely you've been feasted on by the mozzies?

MortonH · #5 04-10-2014, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegacrux

Good thing it was a bee and not a drop bear eh?
Those things are dangerous !

David

MortonH · #6 04-10-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

A bee?!? Does that qualify

Surely you've been feasted on by the mozzies?

Yeah, wasn't counting the mozzies. They're more annoying than anything.

PeterEde (Peter) · #7 04-10-2014, 10:39 PM

Was a European bee. They're all imports too.
Aussie native bee are small and most don't sting. So still not been got

Regulus (Trevor) · #8 04-10-2014, 11:22 PM

Go for the blue-bottle next. If you thinking of starting a collection that is :-)

LewisM · #9 04-10-2014, 11:34 PM

Whinging POM

A bee.. oh dear, someone find me a hanky

Be wary of the Deep Sea Racing Mullet found only in Lake Eyre. They be PLENTY dangerous.

Irish stargazer (John) · #10 05-10-2014, 08:41 AM

I did find this critter hiding behind my bicycle when we were packing up to move from Sydney to Ireland.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7703127@N07/14093329779/

I have counted at least two spiders exported to Ireland in our shipment. Both European house spiders -must have been homesick I guess

.
You got off lightly Morton

mental4astro (Alexander) · #11 05-10-2014, 08:55 AM

Let me see... I've been:

* stung by a stingray (unbelievably painful..

)

* zapped a numd ray (most fascinating creature I've ever seen!)

* stung by a wasp (my fault too -was throwing stones at a nest as a kid. Never been bothered by or bothered them...)

* bitten by a tailor fish on the webbing between thumb and index finger (took hours for bleeding to stop & lucky not to have piece bitten off!)

* bitten by bull ants as a kid (not a mistake you do twice)

* had a 2" cactus thorn pierce through the sole of my boot & go out the top of my foot (and I still love camping)

* AND been kissed by a blue bottle...

AND you're complaining about a EUROPEAN honey bee!!!

Morton, Morton, Morton...

Have to say though, nothing thats 'got' me was ever going to EAT me. All just saying, in very strong term "piss off!". Well, I guess bull ants could eat me, but only after I'm dead from been stung by a million honey bees...

MortonH · #12 05-10-2014, 09:15 AM

Hey, I'm not whingeing or complaining. Just telling a story. If anything I feel sorry for the bee!

LewisM · #13 05-10-2014, 10:05 AM

We joking with ya Morton

Or maybe we need to call you Mortein

PeterEde (Peter) · #14 05-10-2014, 10:11 AM

Wasp damn painful and they usually hit you twice to make sure you get the message

Blue bottle damn painful. The pain just keeps on giving

Bee nothing by comparison. Yep felt sorry for the bee

Ric · #15 05-10-2014, 10:24 AM

Hi Morton

Did you get the old swollen joint syndrome, just as well it wasn't something bigger and nastier.

As a bee keeper I've had a fair share of the bee stings on my hands and arms but there's nothing worse than the bee that makes it under the netting of my bee hat.

julianh72 (Julian) · #16 05-10-2014, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegacrux

Good thing it was a bee and not a drop bear eh?
Those things are dangerous !

David

I strongly encourage all visitors to Australia to read this paper:

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&s...btSYdyqiaFsXxg

The "Australian Geographer" is a well-respected academic Journal, and the paper really WAS published in the Christmas 2012 edition!

TrevorW · #17 05-10-2014, 10:42 AM

Bet you that was the bees knees of your Australian insect experience and it probably was a foreigner at that

Ric · #18 05-10-2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julianh72

I strongly encourage all visitors to Australia to read this paper:

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&s...btSYdyqiaFsXxg

The "Australian Geographer" is a well-respected academic Journal, and the paper really WAS published in the Christmas 2012 edition!

Brilliant

MortonH · #19 05-10-2014, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Hi Morton

Did you get the old swollen joint syndrome, just as well it wasn't something bigger and nastier.

As a bee keeper I've had a fair share of the bee stings on my hands and arms but there's nothing worse than the bee that makes it under the netting of my bee hat.

My toe is slightly swollen and stiff today, but no big deal. The bee, however, is bereft of life.

pgc hunter · #20 05-10-2014, 11:06 AM

Just the other day a Huntsman the size of my palm decided to casually stroll across the driver's side window of my car.

Lucky for me I was parked and it was on the outside, but then, it just disappeared... probably waiting for me under the door handle...

My pool has become a habitat for Redbacks, and I did find what looked like the remains of a Funnel Web spider floating in it once.

I also like to shove sticks down bull ant nests and watch 'em get PO'd and pour out like a volcanic eruption.