My silent battle with Harold
***Large insect warning***
(for those with Spheksophobia or Entomophobia)
For the past week Harold and I have had a silent battle. He visits several times a day. He loves my writer’s nook and wants to make it his home – but I’m not keen on the idea.
The back of my fan is not a good place to nest
He thinks he can bully me into letting him move in and start a family. At first I’d just swat him away, but then he started sneaking up on me while I had my head down trying to write. I’d look up to see his steely eyes an inch from my face. We would have a stare-off until one of us would pass wind through complete and utter fear (no – not me!)
A month ago I wrote a post about how attractive I am (to mosquitoes) and how I had developed a spray from tea tree oil, lavender and water – I’ve now added eucalyptus and it actually works to keep those little killers from sucking my precious blood – so I thought I’d give it a try on Harold.
Why don’t you just kill Harold? I hear you ask.
I have a killing issue. I can’t kill anything unless it’s a character who requires a good whooping to death with a school master’s cane (don’t ask).
This morning I waited for Harold and when he appeared I sprayed my concoction in his direction. At the last second as my finger pulled the trigger I thought I should have done more research on this. What if he loved the smell and it made him amorous!
Yikes – it was too late. The mist was flying through air towards him.
Luckily (for me) he took one sniff and took off.
He’s been back twice (he’s determined) but both times I’ve sprayed again and he’s taken great offense and flown away.
By tomorrow my writer’s nook should be Harold free.
Wish me luck!
I thought about my silent struggle with Harold when I saw the Weekly Writing Challenge – The Sound of Silence.
Follow the link to read more ‘silent’ stories.
143 Comments
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Dianne Gray author 
Yikes! Is that a giant wasp?!
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It’s a Potters Wasp (I think) – but it is big! 😯
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OMG – Harold would have been dead at first sighting – once I’d run screaming from the room and called a family member to deal with him. I’m all for passive resistance until it comes to wasp-waisted stripy creatures. Then it’s DIE SUCKER. Flame throwers should be at hand.
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LOL! Apparently (I’ve heard) Harold won’t attack like other wasps (but will sting if cornered) – I hope they’re right about the non-attacking part because I’ve swiped at him a few times and cracked him on the head with my hand. He doesn’t like that, but always retreats. I was stung by a very nasty black wasp many years ago (that got caught in my clothes) and I never want to face one of those suckers again! I’d have to hire a killer for that 😉
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Give ’em the crunch…
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That’s what hubby says – he’s always ready with the baseball bat! 😉
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Harold is obviously curious about WHAT you are writing . . . he wants a Sneak Preview (or Bug’s Eye View) over your shoulder.
Glad the spray is working on Skeeters!
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Maybe Harold is a secret drone and is really taking photos of my latest block-buster – oh hang on, I’ve never written a block-buster 😉
Skeeter spray is brilliant 😀
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Holy crap Dianne! That sucker looks huge! Hmm, I gather he’s some kind of wasp? I don’t like to kill anything either, I’m afraid I would have to do something drastic though, as I am highly allergic to wasps and bees. I still try not to kill anything if I can help it.
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As long as I can keep him away until he finds that perfect place to nest. I don’t care where it is as long as it’s not in my hair 😀
I have a slight allergy to these things, but nothing deadly, thank goodness. I hope you never get bitten – I couldn’t do without my regular dose of Jackie! 😉
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Well I won’t die if stung, I just pass out. LOL I mean I drop like a rock right where I am. But can’t get rid of me that easily. 😉
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Oh good grief! Please don’t drop like a rock! If you ever visit I’ll wrap you in netting 😀
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OMG how big is freaking Harold for a start! See I would be swatting spraying, shooing, yelling like a banshee in order to get Harold dear to move home. You are a brave one and I had such a visual of the eyeing off to music of the good the bad and the ugly in my head. Ps hi mum hope your doing well 🙂
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Hey Jen – Harold is BIG 😯
I just wish he’d buzz off and nest elsewhere. Apart from everything obvious about his looks, the nests are made of clay and make a big mess around the place.
Mum will be nodding her head and saying ‘Hi’ back! 😀
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Squash him! For the love of…. I am glad she is 🙂 xx
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Haaaaa! I just can’t bring myself to kill him! 😕
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ok I’m on my way
Harold Busters Incorporated
🙂
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Haaaaa! Love it! 😛
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You and your critters! You are one special lady. You could write a book – complete with beautiful photographs – about your critters. Glad to hear your concoction is working and hope Harold stays away, too. 🙂
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The concoction has really been put to the test with all this rain (and the daily walk to the creek with the dogs). I always have a mozzie coil burning on the writer’s nook as well – so I guess that adds to the protection.
I just gave Harold another spray – I think he’s getting the hint 😉
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Better be careful. With the eucalyptus and lavender, he might smell good enough to bring the girls around. 🙂
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LOL! One thing my concoction does is attract the native bees. BUT, they’re very cute little critters who don’t sting (thank goodness!) but they occasionally stick to my skin 😉
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OMG – bees sticking to your skin. It’s times like this that I’m appreciative for the 7 bug free months in Alberta. 😀
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Yikes! What is it? I try not to kill any kind of bug, but sometimes it can’t be avoided.
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It’s a Potter’s Wasp (if anyone has different ideas they’ll let me know) 😉 He’s big, but not really aggressive, he just likes to stand his ground and bluff a lot (I hope it’s bluff!) 😀
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And what’s the recipe for your mosquito repellent?
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I put about a teaspoon of each – tea tree oil, lavender oil and eucalyptus oil and mix it with about two cups of water. It seems to be working so far! 😀
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Great! I’ll have to try it when our mosquitos start appearing here.
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Cicada killer, i think. We get them occasionally. -Amy
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Thanks Amy – I’m sure I wouldn’t like to be a cicada with this guy around! 😉
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Congratulations. it is good to know that you have erected an appropriate wall between your literal and your literary world!
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LOL! I have to Allen, otherwise I risk arrest and a long stretch in the ‘big house’! 😀
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Eeeps! I couldn’t kill Harold, but would have no problem urging hubby to do the dirty work for me. I’m interested in the mixture you’ve had success with as mosquito repellant.. maybe you’ll do a post ans share the ‘recipe’? (hint…hint :razz:)
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It’s a teaspoon of each – tea tree oil, lavender oil and eucalyptus oil and mix it with about two cups of water. It seems to be a success so far…and hopefully it’ll get rid of Harold as well 😀
Hubby wants to kill him, but never seems to be around when Harold makes an appearance – Harold must know 😉
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Janna, I use the same concoction but put it in coconut oil and lather it on. It helps keep the bugs away and hydrates your skin! I’ve never thought of adding eucalyptus to it as well!
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If Harold is slow moving, why not just put a cup over him, then carry him outside and flip it over?
Then make sure there are no holes in your screens or baseboards!
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He is slow moving, but my writer’s nook is an outside veranda so I’d probably have to take Harold a fair distance – if my concoction doesn’t scare him off completely I’ll take him to the creek and let him loose in the rain-forest – I’m sure he can find a good place to nest there 😀
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Dianne I admire your courage! Here in Canada we keep our hornets and wasps away with lemon and cloves (works like a charm) – do you think it would work on a monster like Harold? he’s so big he would probably use a clove as a club or something…
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Oh – thank you so much for that info. I have lemon and cloves! I’ll be waiting (newly armed) for him to appear in the morning 😀
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They are harmless as far as I know… well they are till they sting you… I’m afraid I’d have swatted him and quickly… who knows he could be one of those new fandangled spy wasps, come to steal the contents of your book before you get it out… the spay is not chasing it, just dirtying the camera lens…
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LOL! I’m sure there are secret agents all over the world trying to figure out what I’m busily typing up here on my laptop 🙂
Harold has not made an appearance today – maybe he’s got the hint 😛
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Harold is a bigg’un for sure 😉 As you say, he’s just looking for a new nest spot, so he can make a muddy mess. It’s the little garden wasps I hate. They are aggressive, and have nasty stings… through a gardening glove, in my experience.
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We’ve got some pretty aggressive wasps here as well – the paper wasp is one I dread…
Harold is big and clumsy and just a little annoying. He hasn’t made an appearance this morning so he may have gotten the hint 😉
I’m glad you were wearing gardening gloves when you got the sting even though it would still have really hurt! OUCH xxx
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You are too much – lucky Harold, that he’s found you!! Any other writer’s nook..his days would be numbered. Single digits. 🙂 Your idea to take him to the creek is adorable!!! 🙂
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The creek is lovely and I’m sure he could build a nest and have a family and live there until a ripe old age! 😉
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Dianne, I’m wondering if you are taking compassion just a little too far by not being more forceful in your removal tactics. I would have whacked him by now I think. Mind you, if my accuracy wasn’t perfect that would be likely to make him really cranky which probably wouldn’t be a pretty sight.
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I whacked him yesterday with my hand and it would have been an ace if I was playing tennis 😀 He hasn’t been back today so I think he’s understanding my body language! 😉
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Poor Harold, he knows when he’s not wanted.
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Perhaps there is something else attracting him to your writer’s nook. Next time, in stead of looking him in the eyes, look behind you and check for his even bigger girlfriend!
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Haaaaa! Now I’m screaming!!! Phew – nothing behind me.
Now I come to think of it, they kill big spiders, so maybe there’s a few of those around the place 😯
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You are better than me, Dianne. I would have samurai’d that thing. I’d be scared it’d try to eat me or my family.
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I don’t mind if it eats the family (kidding) 😉
I samurai’d it yesterday with my bare hand and I think it was more shocked than I was because it was slapped almost into the cane field 😀
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Hahahaha!!! Oh boy. (This has me laughing so much over here!) You are one brave woman. I know many a female that would’ve ran for the hills upon seeing that thing.
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Loved the idea of ‘creating’ your own repellent instead of buying one. Oh, you aren’t the only one whose house is frequented by Harold. Fortunately, my dog has NO liking of insects who give off a buzzing sound; so when Harold feels like dropping in for a visit, my dog is en guard. The crazy adrenaline filled chase tires Harold, and he finally hangs his head down (not that I’ve noticed closely :P) and surrenders by leaving through the same window he entered. It’s a really fun sight to witness! 😀
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LOL! My dogs are downstairs (not allowed up in the house anymore since one of them ate my glasses) 😦 But one of them (the Shepherd) is amazingly fast at catching buzzing things – maybe I should sneak him up here 😀
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Wow! He’s a big one and I’ll bet his stinger is too. Keep that concoction handy, Dianne, he might be back.
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He IS a biggie! I have the concoction firmly in my grip as we speak 😉
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That is a really big bug! I don’t like killing things either, when my garden gets infested with green fly or the like, I end up just having to let them be! 😀
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I could imagine it would be difficult to get rid of an infestation of green fly and I’m glad you just let them be – spraying stuff in the garden to get rid of one thing just ends up killing other things as well 😦 You are a kindred spirit! 😀
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Not exactly small and innocuous. Hm.
I hate killing to the point where I let bees land on me. I figure they won’t sting me unless I do something stupid, and eventually, they fly away. So far, so good. But wasps? They are kind of the serial killers of the insect world. They’re mean and nasty and would just as soon sting you as not. I’m glad your spray worked. 🙂
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Harold looks pretty mean, but he hasn’t stung me (yet) so I’m thinking he’s not the aggressive type. People think I’m a bit weird when I let bees land on me – but I think the same way as you and know they’re not landing on me like a kamikaze pilot 😉
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Oh, you are a brave woman Dianne. If it was me, I think I’d just let Harold have the nook and I’d find somewhere else to write! 😀
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LOL! No one takes my nook – it would be a fight to the death 😉
Harold has not made an appearance today so I’m hoping he has found his own nook and is busily working on that bestseller 😀
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You, my friend, are such a brave soul. I run for the hills when anything buzzes or slithers anywhere in my zip code. I’m happy for Harold that he will take up residence somewhere else because of your kindness. I would have called the exterminator.
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I’d definitely call in the exterminator if 10 Harolds decided to make an appearance 😉
Buzzy and slithering things don’t worry me – my greatest fear that would have me heading for the hills are rats – yikes! I’d rather have a snake living in the roof than a rat 😯
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You deal with winged creatures and lizardy beasts far better than I ever could. A bug that size inside my home would do me in, especially if more of his friends followed. I suppose you’re used to it. That’s the price you pay for living in that lovely (and warm) environment. Guess there are SOME perks to living in the equivalent of an igloo for me. 😉
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This warm environment brings out the biggest and baddest of creatures, Carrie. When I first moved here (many moons ago) I was terrified of everything, but after a while I realised that we’re all sharing the same planet so it’s probably best that we try and get along the best we can 😉 I still have my fears and this has taught me to ‘tread carefully’ wherever I go.
Strangely enough, I’d rather deal with winged creatures and lizardy beasts than some of the people I used to deal with when I lived and worked in the city because ‘what you see is what you get’ here 😉
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Ha, good point.
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Ewww… I saw your post last night, but I confess after seeing the picture of the wasp, I held off reading until today. That is one big wasp… I think bees are fascinating… but I can’t get stung unless I want to visit an ER… so I just scream and hubby comes to my rescue much to the wasps’ demise. DAF
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I’m not allergic to bee stings but I was stung quite badly a few years back by a (yet to be identified) black wasp that made me very sick indeed. I was in the passenger seat of the car and it must have gotten caught in my shirt as I was getting in. Needless to say it was so bad I actually jumped from the moving vehicle (going very slowly of course)! So I’m pretty cautious when it comes to wasps.
Harold hasn’t made an appearance today so I think he knows he’s not welcome in this neck of the woods 🙂
I’m sure you tread very carefully when there are bees around – they can be deadly 😦
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We are up to our rafters in mud daubers (a type of wasp) on our new property. Having been stung without provocation this summer I have no good feeling about them. Dianne, your picture tells me that your wasp would easily make TWO of mine. Scary.
Having clicked the like button above… I now believe that I don’t really like her at all!
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LOL! Harold (or Harriet) is gone today – it must have known I was serious when I sprayed it with my concoction 😀
Mud daubers are those black and orange ones and it’s awful you got stung – yikes! Maybe you need to spray something around. I was told here that cloves and lemon juice will keep them away. I made up a batch yesterday, but haven’t had the chance to test it out yet.
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Cloves and lemon juice sound strangely refreshing… kidding! 😛
However, they might not smell too bad. LOL!
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Hi,
I think Harold may be a source of inspiration and deserves to live!
Hugs
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Harold must have found his own writer’s nook because I haven’t seen him for a few days (YAY)! 😀
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Shouldn’t you follow Harold–as he makes his spray escape–just to be sure he isn’t up to even worse behaviour somewhere inside your house. I’m not one for killing, but capture and relocation is fair game. And, from an evolutionary perspective why do flying insects seek us out? If they went about their business and left us alone, we would have no reason to wish them ill. But they actually seek us out! Seems to be an evolutionary step in the wrong direction to me.
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I can see Harold making his escape to the big mango tree outside so I kind of know where he is (most of the time) 😉
Insects certainly seek me out. I’m not sure why, but I wish they wouldn’t! I agree that it’s a big step in the wrong direction on an evolutionary scale 😀
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You are a better woman than me. I don’t kill insects outside when I find them (unless they’re wasps because they have a tendency to take over my whole yard if I don’t), but when they trespass inside, it’s chemical warfare, or flyswatter or foot, or even my book if I’m desperate. Good riddance for Harold.
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I have one of those electric flyswatters!
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I want one of those, but I can’t seem to find one anywhere…
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Send me your address, if I find one here, I’ll send you one! I’m not very good at catching anything but they are fun to play with.
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No – not the book, anything but the book! LOL 😀
My hubby is the same. He’s a great believer in chemical warfare or anything else he can get his hands on to kill any flying insects or creepy crawlies. Once they’re on his territory, they’re fair game. I’m teaching him (albeit with great resistance on his part) that ‘relocation’ may be a better option. I’ve still got a long way to go 😉
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Harold’s got great taste! Love the post… I have the same ‘killing’ issue — killed a few rattle snakes out in Arizona. When I killed a gopher snake by mistake, I swore off killing anything… But, then, there is an exception here and there…We have an invasion here at the ‘bluff’ of beetles (or, Asian lady beetles – similar to ladybugs) – Tennessee’s State Insect is the ladybug! Now, as much as I love the ‘ladies’ or the variations herein they’re taking over the house. Julie just sweeps them up and puts them outside. Our kids have told us NOT to harm them, and, for the most part we are not… Been watching the Sochi Winter Olympics and the ‘little gals’ are on the TV screen. Suffice, one can get annoyed big time! xo
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Those little critters just love the TV screen (especially when we’re watching something interesting)!
I don’t like killing snakes but we have the taipan here which is deadly and not one I would mess with at all (like your rattlers). Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a deadly snake and a ‘good’ one. I say ‘good’ because I have a great dislike (to put it mildly) of rats – so snakes are welcome any time in my ceiling space if there are rats about 😉
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We have a snake that hangs out by our garage (in hibernation now) Julie has named ‘Blackie’ – non-venomous and safe…but can bite! There will be no taipans allowed around the RUC, ever! 🙂
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Oh Diane, you crack me up; after reading your books, I can’t believe you have an issue with killing (what is that thing, a wasp?!) Well, I’m glad your spray worked.
So the eucalyptus is an added benefit to the spray? Mine is tea tree oil, lavender and coconut oil! I will add the eucalyptus to see if it works on the persistent buggers! 🙂
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Oh – I might add coconut oil to mine! I love that smell 😉
I can’t kill anything and one of my comments (from Allen) said he’s glad my literal world is different to my literary world! 😀
The wasp is apparently called a Potter Wasp (because they make nest out of clay like pottery I suspect) 😉
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Its great, but if its in a sprayer, you will have to warm it a tiny bit to liquify it. Shouldn’t be a problem in warm temps.
We have wasp like bugs like that we call them Mud Daubers. They make mud nests all over everything, but they don’t sting. I think they are the same type of bug.
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Goodbye Harold!!! LOL!!!!
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He hasn’t been back today – I wonder why 😉
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I hope Harold got the hint!! I have two large wasp nests in the overhang by my deck. Each year those little buggers come back to nest in the same place and I have a hard time killing them as well. Touch wood….I’ve never been stung. We seem to tolerate each other!
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I guess if you’re going to live together you may as well get along! I know if Harold nests here all his kiddies will want to come back and nest here as well. He hasn’t made an appearance today – even though I’m sitting here with spray bottle in hand. He must know I’m more determined than he is to protect my territory 😀
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Don’t back down….they can sense weakness!! 😉
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Yikes! I’m glad you’re winning. 😀
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I think I’ve won! 😀
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oh my….
dont like the look of Harold!
enjoyed this…
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I don’t like the look of Harold either… But I’ve won the battle! 😀
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Wooop woooop!
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Awww….poor Harold – I am with you on the unable to kill things agenda!! In recent years though I have come around when it comes to ferals like foxes, etc which are bad for the environment and kill native species – not that I could kill one myself (a fox that is) !!
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We have feral pigs here, Dawn and at first I’d say ‘aww, cute little piggies, don’t kill them!’ – but when a full grown razorback charged my car (with me in it) and rammed it’s tusks through the metal door without blinking an eye I quickly changed my mind!
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Yikes!! no wild pigs here thank goodness!
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gah! Good luck fighting Harold! I had a pigeon who used to visit us when we lived in NY I named Harold. Must be a flying things name.
You will win!!
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LOL! Harold has a feathered cousin in NY 😀
I don’t want to speak too soon but I think I’ve won the battle! 🙂
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woo hoo! I hope so! Give it the good fight
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Holy cow, that is one HUGE wasp! Part of me would want to kill it, but the rest of me might be running away and calling for my husband to deal with it. 🙂 I try to leave bugs alone when they’re outside, but it’s harder to do when they’re inside. I’m thinking a badminton racket might be a good thing to keep in the nook….!
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What a great idea – I could play waspminton! 😀
He is absolutely huge, but must have really gotten the hint with the spray because he didn’t return yesterday or today – YAY 😀
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I’m sure Harold appreciates you not killing him, even through he’s been exiled from the writing nook. Glad the two of you were able to resolve your differences peacefully. 🙂
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That’s what I like to think life is all about, Janna – ‘women and beasts coming to an agreement without bloodshed’ 😉
Harold hasn’t been back since my ‘natural concoction’ weapon was used, so I think he now knows this is my territory 😀
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I am so scared of wasps, and my immediate reaction would have been to yell “Kill it!!” Harold must really like the fact that you love him so much, and spray him with lovely perfume. He’s probably flown off to find himself a wife. Watch out for the babies. 😯 I used to have a Great Uncle Harold. He was a bit waspish. 😀
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My hubby said exactly the same thing – ‘you’re spraying him with perfume and now he’s going to have a host of partners!’ LOL Great minds think alike 😀
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I saw a certain little wasp just like your Harold carrying a wolf spider, I opened the back door and accidentally knocked his dinner out of his wee legs…..Poor wolfie was paralysed, an amazingly powerful insect Dianne be on your guard.
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I’ve seen them carrying the wolf spider as well and it’s an amazing sight! You’re not sure who you want to win that battle because neither species are particularly endearing 😀
He seems to have taken off now and I’m quite glad that he may have finally found a nesting spot away from me (I hope he remembers me kindly if I ever come close to his nest) 😉
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Harold is humongous! I’m with everyone else, I’d have to get someone to kill it. I wouldn’t want to get close enough to do it myself.
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Harold has now taken the hint (I think) 😉 I sprayed him a few times with my concoction and he hasn’t come back (thank goodness!) 😀
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You’re so funny – I wouldn’t be able to kill Harold either, especially because he has a name. It sounds like he has a lot of personality too. He might get along well with the frog and all the others. Good luck with those creatures!
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Thanks, Sheila. I’ve had fireflies on the ceiling of my kitchen and writers nook the last two nights and they’re amazingly beautiful and twinkle like stars. I guess there are good critters to balance the scary ones around here 😀
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I could Not be that sanguine about a large leggy insect creeping around my writing area. Let’s Google that bugger and find out who his (her?) natural enemies are. That’ll take care of things.
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Great suggestion, Jacqui – I just Googled it and found that frogs and birds will eat the likes of Harold. I have a lot of frogs and birds here, but Harold has been very scarce since I began spraying him with my concoction. He’s only made one appearance in the last three days. I’m hoping he’s found his own writers nook! 😉
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Oh I would not love a Harold invading my private space. You are a stronger woman than I! Hopefully that spray gets him to take off for good. If not just think of him as a character in your book and do away with him 🙂
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LOL! Harold may meet a very nasty demise if I thought of him as a character in one of my books! 😀
He’s only come back once in the last three days so I’m thinking he’s probably given up and found his own writers nook 😉
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He’s huge! An allergy to wasps and bees runs in my family so his presence would terrorize me. I love your no kill code though–it creates oodles of tension when Harold enters the room–perhaps a short story in the making?
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It’d be a great idea for a short story – you’ve got the conflict between the moral ‘no kill’ code and the danger of being stung. I might just look into that, Kourtney! 😉
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LOL. I’d definitely read it if you wrote it! 🙂
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I can appreciate your kindness toward all living species. Even the nasty ones that can really hurt the heck out of you! I hope the two of you can come up with a fair compromise that suits you both!
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I think I won the battle because he (it) must have found his own writers nook! I’m now Harold free 😀
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Glad you save all the killings for fiction. I’ve heard that if you name it, you can tame it, so you did good with Harold. Wonder if Harold was attracted to the odor from passing wind. Care to experiment? {{{Hugs}}} kozo
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Haaaa! Harold loves my passing wind 🙂
He hasn’t been back for a few days (I don’t know why) LOL 😉
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Hi Dianne! Hope your writer’s nook is now Harold free! What a clever way of writing about that situation, and the way you resolved the unwelcome visitor issue with your spray concoction! 🙂
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My writers nook IS Harold free now! woo hoo – I can concentrate on my writing again 😀
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Thank you for the insect warning. Otherwise, I would have been blindsided by the jaunty name of Harold and ran away from my computer.
I can’t kill anything either. I was the spider rescue team at my last job, because I worked with a bunch of chicks who stood on their chairs and screamed. Eucalyptus is a great addition to the natural bug spray…I’ll try that this summer!
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I love the fact that you were on the ‘spider rescue team’, Britt – LOL. I ‘relocated’ one recently that decided my spare room was a great place to catch birds (yes – it was big) 😉
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Ho, ho, ho…I think you and Harold could make beautiful music together. Go on then, Dianne…give him a chance.
LOL – just kidding. If it were me, I’d drown him in the stuff! 😛
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Oooer – he’s enormous! 😯 What the hell are they putting in the water up there?! Hope you’ve won the battle.
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Dianne = 1
Harold = 0
He’s gone! (happy dance) 😉
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