Our cat is a shameless coward that fears any kind of vermin, so useless as a mouse catcher. The spiders who live on and around my house are much more effective and relentless in taking out invaders.
Walking around the yard this afternoon I spotted four instances of bloody murder of pests. Good work!
But can yours fly?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/venomous-flying-spiders-4-inch-152058604.html
Is the prey a mosquito? I haven’t seen mosquitos or fireflies in years it seems.
I still have a flattie hanging out on my ceiling on occasion. I guess they are better than a pet in that I don’t have to take care of them. No vet bills or chewed up belongings. They do kill bugs. But they lack the warm cozies of snuggling while asleep. I miss that. If I wake up and a flattie is spooning me on my pillow I will have to fight hard against the impulse to get the fly swatter. We aren’t that close yet.
It’s a chironomid midge. They don’t bite.
If any resident spider shows skill as a rodent killer it’s hired!
I am fine with neighborhood cats in my yard because I hope they go after rats so I don’t have to [redacted]. But I have had cats sleep on the hood of my car and pee in my vents. Very uncool. My newish SUV is white and I notice things. There are red ants crawling around over the hood in the morning. I’m fine with that if they sting the cats. I thought cats were bleeding on my hood due to who knows what diseased skin condition but figured out those splotches are from my effin’ oak tree. Chainsaw time? Something is pooping on the vehicle exterior that looks like rodent size but could be roaches. So maybe cats could prevent that yet bleed on my car and pee in my vents? And wiping bird poop off seems dangerous due to avian flu. Ughh!
Spiders seem so innocuous now.
@Hemidactylus
Time to get yourself a pet bird eating spider? They’ll eat mice given the chance
“Better than a cat.”
Try telling that to the cat.
(I dare ya!)
As I speak, I have a photo of a spider-eating bird, eating a spider on my phone, taken from less than 2m away.
(Butcherbird)
@ ^
Dude! You’ll give PZ nightmares! *shush*
@ Hemidactylus
You seem to have missed an episode of PZ’s ongoing horror show. X-D
https://proxy.freethought.online/pharyngula/2023/08/26/shoes-allow-me-to-better-serve-my-ravenous-masters/
My cat is an excellent hunter. If there’s anything in the house that isn’t supposed to be there, she takes care of it. I love her.