We have discovered many new and interesting critters here. These are not the things I had in my backyard or neighborhood as a child. Some I want to know better, others I want to never encounter again. You make the call…
MEET TONY
Tony visits occasionally on our terrace. Frequently crawling across the 50% shade cover to sun him/herself, or gain access to the flowering bush next door. Although it is a terrible pic, I posted it to the hive mind and they tell me that this is a cape spinytail iguana, Ctenosaura hemilopha, endemic to Baja California. I have also seen Tony hiding under our terra cotta roof tiles, and climbing in our “cotton” tree. (I don’t yet know what this bush/tree is. It’s blooms burst out like cotton balls. It is very messy and vine-y.)
MEET THE NOPE BUG
People tell me that these NOPE bugs are common to the US Southwest and much of Mexico. These are not the Asian death hornets. They are called Tarantula Hawks – which sounds just as bad to me. It seems that those who know better recommend that one stays FAR AWAY from these things. They are pretty to look at but apparently pack a nasty punch!
NOTE: These seem to be seasonal. We saw them A LOT last spring (photo from last April) and early summer, but not much after. I *just* saw my first couple of them for 2021 this week (mid-March).
MEET THE HOUSE SCORPION
I’m told that these are very common around here and are considered quite beneficial. They eat cockroaches. That is all well and good, however I’m not really happy about finding them in my kitchen sink, my mixing bowls, on the floor in my bathroom, etc. Call me crazy. I also don’t appreciate having to remember to check my slippers every morning to avoid a nasty surprise. (Although locals say it is “only as bad as a bee sting”).
MEET THE HOUSE CENTIPEDE
Our last critter (for today) is the common house centipede. Again, I’m told that they are common and beneficial – again for killing cockroaches. Again, I’m told that they “don’t usually bite” but if they do it is “only as bad as a bee sting”. I usually find these things under the furniture, but I’ve also seen them in the kitchen. EEEWWWWWW.
It seems that just as I’m “getting used to” the new and ?exciting? fauna here I find new things to make me cringe. Welcome to Mexico – I really do love it here.
Hmmmm. Those bugs would take getting used to (or not). Julie