Ungrateful critter!

I was sat with my cat as usual on my keyboard when we spotted a black beetle running across the carpet.
Not want it to get eaten by said cat, who had her eye on it for lunch, I got up & picked it up to set free outside the door ..... & it bit me!
Or should that be pinched me?!

It made me jump & in shaking it off it went for a short flight across the patio which I'm sure it wasn't expecting!:twisted

I never knew beetles could bite ... & next time I'll let nature take it's course!

I googled the bloomin' thing & it said always pick them up holding them either side as they can't turn their heads to bite ... hmmmm ... they're not going to get the chance again!

Re: Ungrateful critter!

Oh dear Cathy I learnt my lesson some years ago when I picked up a long thin orange thing with wings in the hall and it bit me . Insects can be so ungrateful

Do you know what it was?

Re: Ungrateful critter!

Not really Meg other than a shiny black beetle ... the kind you see now & again in the garden.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

Better keep an eye on the bite just in case, you never know with these things. Perhaps it was taking it out on you for the awful summer we had!Fancy having to live outside in the terrible rain we seem to have had all summer.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

I didn't know they could bite either Cathy, I hope your bite is harmless and thanks for putting me wise.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

I got bitten today too, or pinchered. One of the grandchildren was going on and on that she had caught a certain crab (out of 20 or so) and grandad had put it in her sister's bucket and not in hers. Muggins here had to pick it out and swap it to the right red bucket. The horrible thing nipped me hard! Well lI think it did, it hurt.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

You're braver than me jennywren I tend to save those clear plastic pots and use them to catch critters with then put them outside. Even if it's a big fat hairy spider (then it has to be a much larger pot - I won't kill anything though.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

I catch and release when I can, but always with a jar or clear plastic cup. Other than the odd mouse, which I don't mind picking up by the tail.

Re: Ungrateful critter!

I'll be following your example from now on Annie Jack!

Re: Ungrateful critter!

Beetles can give you a very nasty pinch! But it wouldn't have been a good lunch for the cat, glad you got it out. I try to do trap and release with 6 legged things, but stomp spiders!