Help - TX lizards are killing off my geckos!
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9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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Comments (41)Gary, I should have realized you were talking about keas, the only species of parrot known to have nocturnal habits. I have seen infra-videos of them several times. Just never heard about the blood sucking bits. Here is what Wikipedia says, for those interested: "An omnivore, the Kea feeds on more than 40 plant species (Tab. 1), beetle larva, other birds (including shearwater chicks) and mammals (including sheep and rabbits).[17][3] The Kea has also taken advantage of human garbage and "gifts" of food.[21] In captivity, the bird is fond of butter, nuts, apples, carrots, grapes, mangoes, figs, bread, dairy products, ground meat and pasta" (This diet sounds about right for captive parrots of many species, actually, leaving out the butter.) Here is a bit more info: "There had been a long-running controversy about whether the Kea preys on sheep, with the earliest reports appearing in 1867. An article by naturalist G.R. Marriner in 1906, describing substantial anecdotal evidence of these attacks, became the accepted view of the bird's habits.[12] Several prominent members of the scientific community concluded that the rumours were true, although others were not convinced. However, in 1962 animal specialist J.R. Jackson concluded that the bird may attack sick or injured sheep, especially if it mistook them for dead, but that it was not a significant predator.[22] Finally, in 1993, its nocturnal assaults were captured on video,[3], proving that at least some Kea will attack and feed on healthy sheep. The video confirmed what many scientists had long suspected, that the Kea uses its powerful curved beak and claws to rip through the layer of wool and eat the fat from the back of the animal. Though the Kea does not directly kill the sheep, death can result from blood poisoning or accidents suffered by animals trying to escape." This would not seem to be aberrant behavior, but rather a learned one from a bird that is highly intelligent and very adaptable. Not being a true predator, but definitely being a carrion eater, it obviously discovered sheep were easy targets, and it didn't have to wait around until they died. It was also noted that they steal items from tourists backpacks and camping gear, being curious and liking to make off with bright objects. I guess I should be happy that I only have wintering red-shouldered hawks to contend with in my garden. Kea: Close up of Kea's formidable beak, which is quite different than most parrots'. And lastly...I can't believe you didn't comment on my picture above of the blood-sucking parrot that is currently visiting my birdfeeder, Gary??? Shucks. I thought maybe it would give you a smile. Marcia...See MoreHousehold Gecko Control
Comments (6)Geckos can make your life a living hell. I learned that the hard way. I remember lying in bed watching a couple of them mating on the ceiling one evening, this was shortly after I bought my house; and thinking they were so cute. I inadvertently encouraged them because I have automated outside lighting and this attracts a lot of insects. Fast forward 15 years. Now I kill them whenever I see one. Please allow me to debunk some gecko myths and give you the benefits of my experience with them. Geckos are beneficial: Not necessarily. We have an infestation of a type of gecko that originates in India, so they are not indigenous and they compete with our beautiful little skinks, who are. I see about 500 geckos for every skink. And the skinks are losing the battle... Geckos can be relocated, just take them outside: I found a three legged gecko in my bathroom one day. Not wanting to harm it, I carried it to the bottom of my garden (2500 square meter property). A day or so later, guess what? There was a three legged gecko in my bathroom again. Geckos are territorial. Geckos are harmless: They may well be, but their poop is not. Google and see for yourself. Geckos have "communal toilets", if they decide your kitchen counter is going to be "the spot", they will keep coming back until you kill them. I have seen a gecko come in from outside, poop, and then go back outside! They usually do it from a height (cornice) and depending on the size and consistency of the turd, it can splatter quite a bit on impact (read kitchen counter, dish rack, bedside table, windowsill etc). Bear in mind our variety can grow to 4 inches or more (excluding tail) and output will be in proportion to input. Not convinced? Read on.... I have been unable to keep the geckos out of my ceiling void. My ceilings are encrusted with gecko poop. From time to time I have to go up there with a paint scraper, vacuum cleaner and a bucket. It's impossible to get to it all, and I'm not talking about a few hundred turds, there are thousands of them! My house is surrounded by huge trees. Broken and cracked roof tiles are the norm. Consequently there are leaks from time to time. When one of those "communal toilet" areas gets wet, the poop starts to ferment. As I write this, I'm breathing in the stench of fermenting gecko poop. It permeates the whole house - all the time! Did I mention the climate here? 40 degrees (C) in the shade on some days, and after the rain, up to 60% humidity inside. Still getting those warm sqooshy sentimental feelings when you think geckos? Have you ever woken up in the night because of a disgusting smell? That's right, a gecko above your head pooped on your pillow and you just rolled your face in it! Have you ever reached for your freshly made cup of coffee only to have to pour it down the sink because as you were reaching for it, there was a little plop? Yes, you look up and a gecko has just crapped in your coffee cup! Have you ever been reading in bed, all freshly bathed and ready for sleep, only to have to go and wash your hair because a gecko on the ceiling let go a nice big wet one? I'm safe, I live on the 12th floor: Don't kid yourself. Remember that box of stuff auntie gave you, the one she's been storing in the attic, the one with the gecko eggs it? As long as there's food for them, they'll stay. And they're not afraid of heights. Oh, and they travel by car too! My carport is infested, nothing I can do about that. They poop all over the cars. The poop is corrosive enough to eat the galvanising off metal. I've been driving along the freeway only to have one pop up from under the bonnet. If you find a straight stretch of freeway and get your speed up to about 140, it might just blow away. But don't count on it. Don't make the mistake of leaving a car window open when you get home either. Sooner or later, a gecko will find it's way into the car interior. It will then do two things. It will poop all over the interior, and if it can't get out, it will die. Then it will stink. A lot! If it dies in an inaccessible place like the innards of the dash, or one of the air vents, you will be stuck with the smell for the duration of the decomposition process. If it's in an air vent, running the aircon may reactivated the decomposition process from time to time thanks to condensation that may form. And believe it or not, I could go on! Even after all this time I still don't like killing them. But small geckos become big geckos. And few become many. And dead geckos don't poop!...See MoreOff-Topic- Please help identify this bug found under my monitor
Comments (24)They can also get into your house and eat paper, clothes, or anything else they feel like eating. Sometimes they'll chew on something that's wet, just to get moisture. And once they're in your house, they'll wake you up in the middle of the night with their chirping songs. The Chinese consider them good luck when in the house. But they do eat a LOT of things including your food as well as the pet food. A baby one means there are more somewhere. Put out fly paper with cornmeal on it as a trap. They will jump on and you can take them outside. If you leave baseball gloves or other leather items outside the crickets will chew up the leather and ruin it. So it is OK to have them but they are not completely benign. Good Luck !! And I hope your headache is way way better. c...See MoreClear like gel killing off peaches.
Comments (7)Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM) is one of the two serious bugs that damage peaches (both fruits and shoots). The other one is coddling moths. Pick off all peaches that have entry marks, oozing. They are done. They will drop if you don't pick them off first. Do not throw damaged peaches in compost pile, you extend the moths' life cycle in the ground. Throw them out with trash. If you cut the fruit up, you'll see damages inside. If you want, keep some in the bucket and wait a few days, you'll see worm stage of the moths. As for spray, you can only save the clean peaches (if there are any left). The insecticide that is used by many members here is Triazicide Once and Done by Spectracide. You should mix spreader/sticker with Triazicide so the chemical will stay on longer. The one you can find easily is by a Bonide product called Turbo Spreader/Sticker. You can easily find those products at Home Depot or Lowe's. It's a quick fix. Then, if you are more organically inclined, you should look for Surround, it's kaolin fine clay. It can be sprayed as protectant. Do not need to mix with spreader. I can't find Surround in my local Home Depot or Lowe's so I have to order it on line. That takes a few days, by then, OFM would damage all your peaches. If you have organic plant supplier nearby, they may carry Surround. Here's the link on OFM.http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/ofm/ofm.asp....See MoreUser
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