Invasion

I am not a person who dislikes bugs. I catch and release spiders that have made their way into our home, I watch for worms on the sidewalk when it's raining, and I try to disperse ant hills by using cinnamon or pepper instead of just washing them away with the hose. I don't know why, it might have something to do with Karma or the fear that God actually has a segmented body and wings, but I try to show bugs consideration and not squash them just because I can. Until now. This time the bugs have gone too far.

I am speaking in particular about Box Elder beetles. If you live in Utah or anywhere with a lot of mature trees I know you've seen them. They're small and are black with red markings. They also fly and sometimes walk around while mating (not kidding). And I think about 100 of them are now living in my house.

The enemy.

The bug surge began about two weeks ago. I would see one and pick it up and put it outside. Then I would see another, pick it up and put it outside. See, pick, move, repeat. And it went like that for several days. Then they got rude. I awoke one night to a strange sensation on my neck. Aneurysm? Nope, a Box Elder beetle. That one didn't make it outside. I didn't kill it, but it might have gotten hurt when I hurled it across the room. The night I was so sick last weekend? In between retches I got to watch two different bugs crisscross the wall. They have even taking to hitching rides on Sally. And no one rides Sally.

When I just didn't think it could get worse it did. The bugs started dying. Now, not only was I battling the live bugs I was serving as coroner for the dead ones. It isn't like removing the dead bugs was a difficult task -- it's just it was kind of creepy having all these little corpses around my house. Like a low budget Rob Zombie movie.

So, now I am looking for any way to stop the influx of bugs making their way into the house. I have tried sweeping, Dust busting, fans, spray bottles and anything else that doesn't contain noxious chemicals. Of course, I could just shut the back door (Ryan's suggestion) but Sally and the cats really love going in and out. And it isn't like bugs know how to use doors...