ARGGGGH.

[feng_shui_house]

It was raining when I woke up, but mostly it threatened, so I did finish weeding enough cleared space to transplant the remaining grass runners.

I saw an assassin bug when I was weeding. Tried to take a photo, if it doesn't work, then look at the top photo here, which looks very similar to the one I saw. They're generally considered harmless to humans although they can bite and in some species it can be long lasting painful.


https://extension.umd.edu/resource/assassin-bugs

Around 10,000 people a year die as a result of assassin bug bites- because it can transmit Chagas disease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deadliest_animals_to_humans

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease

https://epi.ufl.edu/2024/07/10/chagas-disease-in-florida-what-to-know/

Finally I got down to find out the bugs that are disease vectors are 'triatomine' and while similar and often called assassin bugs (because they are predators on other insects) the assassin bug I saw is NOT the disease carrying species.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1412

That species is the Eastern Bloodsucking Conenose. Ok, I never saw one of those.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triatoma_sanguisuga


Oh, HELL... forget about contacting me through Flickr. My account (had for over 11 years) has been DELETED. I put up a post, I commented, I returned to find my account gone and my user icon and name replaced by a generic cartoon camera and the name 'dashing spoon [deleted]'.

So, I've spent time attempting to use their 'help' which is basically ONE form you can fill out which is impossible for someone with a deleted account because some of it is 'provide the URLS for things you can no longer get to'.

I am too upset to think. I don't even know what photos were lost. I did a cull back years ago when Flickr didn't want any 'adult' images and I removed even slightly iffy fan fiction drawings, so I don't think they deleted me for that. If they ever get back and give me a reason I'll be lucky. I doubt they'll reinstate it for whatever reason they took it down.

So no photos now. I am too annoyed to function.

Comments

[spiralsheep]

Hi person I used to once-a-year with on naarmamo and who has popped up on my network page. I'm very glad to hear you're not going to be assassinated by a bug. I'm sad to hear flickr have restricted / deleted your account and access to your photos. I hope something good happens for you soon. :-)