Letter to the Editor
Be nice to beetles
Published Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!July 4, 2008
To the editor:
This morning I picked up the paper and read your front-page article, “Beetle Invasion.” I am annoyed and disappointed at the reporting.
I am 27 years old and grew up in Fairbanks with white-spotted sawyers in my life. I have never been bitten by these beetles, although they have landed on me countless times, I have picked them up and removed them from me (including my hair and head). They can be flicked off and picked up by their antennae easily.
Furthermore, I have never heard of anyone being bitten by these beetles and my community of people all enjoy a very active outdoor life. I find them interesting looking and a wonderful part of the biodiversity of my home.
Your city-slicker portrayal of them as invasive, Darth Vader looking, and nasty biters is a lot of hype that only contributes to the unnecessary fear regarding these beetles that already exists in Fairbanks.
You do provide some counterpoints to their ferocity by stating they are “otherwise harmless,” the bite does not puncture the skin and they do not actually kill trees.
Too late! The reader/anyone who looks at the front page has already been imprinted with the title and opening statements.
Please save your little boy imaginative musings about insects attacking the world for the grocery tabloids. I will continue to enjoy sharing my world with these harmless creatures and advocate for a live and let live attitude.
“Fear is path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” —Yoda
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
I personally know 3 people who have been bitten by these beetles, all of them hard enough to draw blood.
Considering how many of them there are around, it may not be common for them to bite, but they do.
I hate the things and go out of my way to keep them from landing on me in the first place, and yet I've been bitten by them twice. And yes, the most recent time it did break skin and it did hurt like crazy.
I for one was glad to see the News-Miner interviewing the cooperative extension staff about them, if only so certain delusional people would stop trying to claim that they DIDN'T BITE.
Well, first off...loving the Yoda...agree with the theology.
Also agree with the fact that they are just little bugs people. Yes, I get a little wigged out when they land on me too but the world is in fact not coming to an end. It is quite easy to pinch their antennae together and remove them from yourself. (After the heart attack of immediate girly panic courses through me that is)
BUT I do not want to further the statement that they do not bite because THEY DO. And if it wasn't technically biting then fine, whatever that clever beetle did to me last week when I couldn't get it out of the front of my shirt still hurt like hell. But it was a moment of immense amusement for my 3 and 5 year old daughters. So maybe it was worth it.
I always kinda liked 'em and think they're funny. Randomly splatting into things and all.
Might stick; might knock themselves down to walk or fly away. Ya gotta admit, they're tough, and seem to have a pretty good attitude; don't get discouraged easily.
When I peel one off, I may throw it at one of my kids on occasion to get that ridiculous but amusing reaction you mention Steph_March.
Although I, too, share my world mostly peacefully with 'em, I must say they also make fine cat toys.
Yes, I was bitten by one a few days ago as well. Same situation as Steph - it somehow found itself inside the sleeve of my shirt. While the bite certainly grabbed my attention, it was a short-lived pain. I find mosquitoes and other biting insects to be far more troublesome.
My chickens love these critters! Maybe it is the crunch....
I think we should treat the Alaskan mosquito with respect. Stop buying all those chemicals you spray to get rid of them. Stop buying those propane burners and zappers. Volunteer yourself to be part of the food chain. Give your blood so they can multiple. Mosquitoes are the national treasure of Alaska and should be protected by all. Shame on you who would dare to kill them. DNM the mosquitoes deserve equal coverage.
I know two people that were mauled and one was raped also, by these Mike Tyson type insects.Embrace them if you want, but count me out!
It seems like only yesterday that the 4 moptops made their debut on Ed Sullivan. I really liked that album "Revolver". How could anyone think of being violent to them? Although, I'll admit, that drummer was butt ugly.
Maybe Mcain can use the invasion of these little terrorists as a tool to win the presidency. I heard Obama's second middle name is "Sawyer".
I was bitten by a white-spotted sawyer beetle last month. The beetle somehow got down my shirt on my shoulder blade and decided to take a bite. It hurt pretty bad, and stung for about a half hour. I don't have anything against them, but they do bite!
maybe we should put these bugs on the endangered species list.
Sorry Tristan; one landed on my leg and immediately bit me for the first time this summer and I changed my policy from "live and let live" to "squash whenever possible". Besides, they terrify my two year old because one bit him. When he sees even a dead one he runs away shrieking.
I did think the "hurts worse than a bee sting" part of the article was unfounded hyperbole though. Yellowjacket stings hurt a bazillion times worse. The beetles give a bad pinch but don't seem to have venom or even leave a welt like horseflies or no-see-ums.
nahhhh...Ill just keep killin' 'em, thanks...
6 reasons why these "beetles" shouldn't be compared to Darth Vader- (there are probably more)
1. Darth Vader was one of the greatest pilots in the galaxy- not so with these random flyers.
2. Darth Vader's method of destroying planets is much more effective than these little beetles.
3. If Darth Vader did have antennas, he certainly wouldn't make that eerie scream that the beetles make when their antennas are ripped out of their heads.
4. Although both combustible despite their shiny exoskeleton, only Darth Vader can make a heavy breathing noise.
5. Although both strike fear in the hearts of children. No kid is ever going to want a black beetle as an action figure! They just aren't marketable.
6. Darth destroyed the more sadistic and evil emperor- thus showing that he did have some good in him (Luke was right). However, these beetles are black, soulless husks that are rotten to the core.
In the future, I hope the DNM is more accurate in its characterizations of our beloved indigenous species.
I think this is a job for PETA. Maybe they can work together with the EPA to see if the increase in population from last year is a result of global warming. Oh, and maybe I can get together with the author and start a local chapter of the NAAWSS. Let's be tolerant of these little creatures because after all, they were here before us and they have rights too. Come to think of it, if we elect one as President, maybe our country would be better off. WSS for President!
LOL, sorry. I needed to post a little sarcasm to start MY Monday off.
Ive never been stung by a bee so that means bees dont sting.
Kill-kill them all! The only good bug is a dead bug! I wonder if anyone remembers what bug movie that was from? Anyway, those buggers really freak me out. They do bite and hard and I find they like to land on white colored shirts alot, so I stay away from white when I am outside. I must say that they do make me do a sorta weird dance when they are around me outside, I bet the neighbors really get a wonderful show and for free to! I haven't seen one robin collecting these buggers and I wonder why? Maybe they are scared of them as well as me. Also, when they land on you and you don't find out until you are in your car it makes for an interesting driving adventure. How come for such a big bug they manage to climb into shirts so easily? Hubby got bit 3 times from the one that managed to get into his shirt, the marks lasted all night from the bites.
I'm with you Tristan. These beetles are harmless. The mental image of all of these so called tough Alaskans fleeing from a beetle makes me shake my head. The Newsminer article may have been a city slicker portrayal of these beetles, but it was appropriate, because most Fairbanksans are indeed city folk--they just don't want to admit it.
Touche aframe...
I'd heard Volkswagen was making Beetles again. Turns out they're just like the original model: ugly, unwanted, only loved by hippies, and always in your way when you want to get somewhere.
glacierles: LOL! Your's is the best post all day!
Dr. C.
I agree with the person who posted that they make good cat toys, good dog toys also!
Yea, they're a nusience, but they're also a good sign post...
I've noticed that they are only attracted to dead, or near dead, trees. When one of my trees is crawing with these beetles, I take that a sure sign to grab the chainsaw and take out the tree before it falls on something important. (another good sign to take out a tree is a couple woodpeckers having a banquet)
-RK
Ive been thinking about dipping them in chocolate and selling them to tourists.
Kill them all!!! I can't stand those nasty things.
This woman was walking crazy like in Fred Meyer, she looked as if she may have been on something. Then she proceeded to slam into me. I thought she was nuts and said some choice words to her. I made my way into the liquor store where I found out why the woman was acting like she was on PCP. I felt something crawling on my stomach and I looked down my shirt to see this huge nasty beetle staring back at me. I freaked out and ripped my shirt off--right there in the liquor store. My husband was screaming at me because I was standing there in my bra. Needless to say that bug will offend no more.
No matter what anyone says to me I will continue to kill these things whenever I can.
lagirl: I'm sorry to have missed that show! I thought the strip joint was a bit further down Old Airport Way.
HEMINGWAY - I'LL PARTNER WITH YOU... WE COULD DO DEAD AND ALIVE WSS'S FOR THE TOURIST... LOL!!!
lagirl---
That's a funny story. I'm curious as to what your husband was screaming.
north_pole79 LOVE IT!!
Ya know, they melt when laquer thinner is poured over them
They also ignite very well when blasted with alcohol and a torch-MMMMM! Toasty!
i find them in my hair about 1 or 2 a week.......i have picked one up and tried to actually look at it and figure out what it was .. later found out it was a beetle... i say live and let live.... if they were not attracted to humans i think we would be more curious about why they are here now and when they will leave.... i have not been bit yet but i am not also saying they dont bite.... some insects are attracted to sweat some to perfume and some even to clothes but we all have to live in peace even bug to human.... if there is one on a tree or walking in the grass why go out of your way to kill it.....they may be part of the foood chain or the plant chain everything feeds off something else humans eat animal eat smaller ones and so on .... would you kill your pet if it bit you.....
these bugs won't bite you if you don't freak out and start bouncing around, screaming, and slapping a them.
i've showed my four year old daughter to be cool, and simply lift them off of you, no matter how creepy their little legs feel.
handle them gently and they won't bite you. i'm not a super bunny hugger though, i won't get mad if i see you stomp one to death after gently removing it from your clothe or skin. me, i just let em go on with their day, unlike most of my friends and family.
My husband thought the strip club was down the road also! I proved him wrong when that bug crawled up my shirt. My husband was so embarassed and yelling at me to put my shirt back on until he saw the dead bug at my feet. Then he had his confirmation that I really am crazy!
I think it is hilarous (as long as they are not on me) to sit in the car at Fred Meyer or Walmart and watch people do the sawyer dance. That is real entertainment!
Make a slip-knot with a 2' long piece of sewing thread. Slip the loop around the antenna of one of these bugs and gently pull the thread until it's snug around the antenna. Then, VIOLA! Your very own motorized mini-copter!
(How else should I respond to all this about a bug story in a newspaper?)
Not too long ago, I read an article about cockroaches being decked out with crystals and being sold as "fashion accessories"...maybe that's a market we're missing out on here. After all, black and white are such classic colors - easy to dress up or down.