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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be terrified of crane flies?

47 replies

IfIDontSnowAndYouDontSnow · 11/04/2014 20:05

They scare me senseless. I thought that I had until autumn to start worrying about it, however went to put the bins out & there they are. Horrible things aimlessly flying around, crashing into everything in the way, including me.

They really frighten me, to the point where I cant go outside if they are by the door. As for opening the windows, I just cant bring myself to do it. I have made a fool of myself many times, trying to avoid them in a panic whilst out & about.

Anyway, now Ive made my feeli gs clear about them. Is there anyway I can prevent them coming within 10feet of me?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 11/04/2014 20:08

Flap a tea towel at them? That's what I do. They're annoying but harmless and creepy. Once I realised I can fell them with a tea towel without any effort or aim, they didn't bother me any more.

Bettercallsaul83 · 11/04/2014 20:13

Oh my lord, I hate them too.

They are giant spiders with wings in my opinion and I freak out when I see them.

Usually float into the bathroom whilst I'm on the loo, and I know they will readily descend into my face if I don't leave quickly. When they are near the door I panic and don't know what to do.

I'm generally a chilled out person in all other areas of life!

Original poster
IfIDontSnowAndYouDontSnow · 11/04/2014 20:16

Bettercallsaul83 they are giant spiders with wings, that's what I tell dp!

OP posts:
Coffeeinthepark · 11/04/2014 20:17

Not sure I can think of many mini beasts I like less. But I also know why I dislike them. At primary school boys used to pull their legs and wings off and put them down people's backs. I have a fear of them flying into my mouth and losing a leg in there. I hate that they come apart so easily, and that they fly around so unpredictably

CrazyOldCatLady · 11/04/2014 20:19

YANBU.

When I was in the delivery room being induced with DD I flat out refused to go into labour till the midwife got a sweeping brush and killed the one that was fluttering around the room.

I can't stand them.

Bettercallsaul83 · 11/04/2014 20:22

At least with spiders they mostly try and stay out of your way! Grin

My bf catches them with his hands, gross Shock

ScrambledSmegs · 11/04/2014 20:27

They're vile. They never have their full complement of legs and wings, have you noticed? Where do they leave them?

Topseyt · 11/04/2014 20:27

I'm not as bad with them as I used to be, but I hate the way they dive-bomb you.

I used to think of them as flying spiders when I was a child, and that freaked me out.

Sarsaparillajones · 11/04/2014 20:27

YANBU they are the spawn of the devil!

lau55 · 11/04/2014 20:31

We lived in a flat for 2 years and every winter there was an infestation of these buggers all over the outside of the building and all the buildings on the road, and the next road. They would be all over our communal lobby and staircase inside as well.

When I woke up the first day and saw them, it was like a horror film! I mentioned it at work and they were like, oh yeah, that happens every year! Except...it doesn't as I live in the next road now! It was so creepy, I don't know why we didn't do anything about it

YouStayClassySanDiego · 11/04/2014 20:32

Do you mean Daddy Long Legs, am I being thick?

Hate the things, are they around, none here in Shropshire yet!

Original poster
IfIDontSnowAndYouDontSnow · 11/04/2014 20:34

Is there anyway I can prevent them getting near my front door? Or the lawn?

OP posts:
Original poster
IfIDontSnowAndYouDontSnow · 11/04/2014 20:35

Only seen 1 big one today. The rest were little ones,, not fully grown yet.

OP posts:
Leaningtoweroflisa · 11/04/2014 20:36

When I was but a tween / teen, I developed my hatred of these creepy bastards. This age as I was finally allowed by mum and dad to shower rather than bath. With the window open. Allowing the dangly legged perverts to come in in their erm 10s and brush their horrific selves against my naked wet teenage self.

Always when in the shower, they never came in and chased me off the loo or when brushing my teeth. Perverts I tells ya.

otoh, a huge moth once lurked down the loo and tried to fly up my bottom but strangely I didn't take agin them as a species

Amytheflag · 11/04/2014 20:38

Yanbu. They scare the shizzen out of me. It stems from being a teenager when the boys at school would catch them and throw them at us. The way they pulsate against walls makes me want to vomit.

Financeprincess · 11/04/2014 20:38

I am petrified of the buggers. YANBU.

Liked your post, Lisa!

Financeprincess · 11/04/2014 20:39

Oh yeah, and the way they shamelessly mate on windows in late summer really annoys me.

CorusKate · 11/04/2014 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Megrim · 11/04/2014 20:43

I remember the boys at school filling one of the girl's desks full of these things. I think they had spent the entire lunch time catching them, there must have been about 50 of them. How we laughed.

curiousgeorgie · 11/04/2014 20:44

I am so with you... They are utterly terrifying.

I was once doing my homework and a crane fly fell straight onto my exercise book, dead. I hit the roof.

deakymom · 11/04/2014 20:45

they are so hard to kill you smash them one and up they float one leg down but STILL ALIVE! i bug spray

CorusKate · 11/04/2014 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fluffyraggies · 11/04/2014 20:48

Hate them. HATE THEM!

and they will.not.die!

You can swat them, smack them with a flip flop, thwak them with a tea towel .... and still they wave a spindly leg about and threaten to get airbourne again.

Someone mentioned them hanging round the lawn. It's because that's where they hatch from. Earth under the grass. Their lava is called leather jackets.

supadupapupascupa · 11/04/2014 20:50

when i was pregnant, i was in the house alone and 2 of the buggers were in the bathroom. would ya believe it i was home alone and got an attack of the IBS. i am so afraid of them i had to use the mop bucket in the hallway Sad DH was out at a mates and had no sympathy at all. i was mortified........ YANBU

letsgotostonehenge · 11/04/2014 20:50

YANBU they are the devil incarnate, skittering across the floor and losing a leg every now and then , ughhhh