Now I'm really sad. I thought the purpose of wombats was to amuse the indigenous population of Australia, though more recent transplants are also allowed to laugh.

http://www.jackiefrench.com/wombat.html

It's actually to give reference librarians an in-joke , but I'm not sure either of those purposes were intended/divined by Nature.

Doc

[QUOTE=echoes long ago;1068999]looking at those pictures it is a lone star tick. thanks kitt![/QUOTE

You are welcome.

Thanks Glenn, I really enjoyed that story!

I looked up the book on Google images....the art work is wonderful!

Available at Amazon on the used book feature for pennies~
http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wombat-J...ry+of+a+wombat

Hubby wants us to buy it now.... I love the art work and sentiments in this book...so getting a copy for upNorth to enjoy.

Thanks for the article Doc!

Won't change my mind as I still don't like them. As with the stink bugs.

They are bugs that have no place in the human world. They can stay off my body and out of my house!

Killed 3 stinks bugs today and more are coming out, have to spray the top of windows and doors, mixture of water and dawn dish washing liquid.

Then I spray with ortho and it seems to keep most of them away.

I do this in the fall as they want to come in for the heat for winter, in the spring, not too many, becasue they are wanting out to lay eggs, feed on fruit and find warmth elsewhere.

I'm not crazy about these two kinds of bugs, but can't remove all of them.

Still think the devil has a hand in it as our govt does too!

KEEP THEM IN ASIA!!! lol

Understood. Wasn't trying to change anyone's mind. Lots of pests I have no use for—like anything that crawls on, bites, stings, or otherwise annoys me.

Doc

coincidentally my daughter got bit yesterday by a tick. 30 miles from where i got bit. apparantly there is a population explosion of them this spring, which is surprising considering how cold it was this winter. first time either of us had ever been bitten by a tick.

They take cover under debris, etc. until it is warm enough to come out again. A good site explains it.

http://www.aldf.com/deerTickEcology.shtml

They are there just under cover til it warms up again. Probably a good reason to get the leaves and such off of your lawn in the fall. We mow a huge area as well. Also, chickens of all kinds really clean them up.

You make me smile, Dr. Smith, and I learned a little about ticks today.

Go forth and release the guinea hens! (if you happen to live in Lyme country.)

I have learned to tolerate snakes and spiders if they are not poisonous to humans...they serve a greater purpose, after all!

no ticks on my property. these two incidents happened away from home