So for the past month since returning from outreach, my living space has been relatively free of overgrown pests. The maintenance department sprayed the perimeter and set off foggers inside- and it seems to have kept things fairly under control. Granted i have had a couple young two inch centipedes creep out in the bathroom, slow and disoriented, late victims of the perimeter treatment. But they were easily taken care of and proved to be no real bother. Things have been pretty tame. Until tonight's free for all in the bathroom...
I went in to use the toilet, and in the shadows spotted an adult centipede. Happily (?), I now keep a crow bar leaning on the wall next to the toilet. Since instituting the crow bar, i don't think a single centipede has escaped from me, actually. Anyhow, it was slow and poisoned like the smaller ones i have come across recently, so i quickly killed and flushed it. One down.
About an hour later I went in the bathroom again and in my peripheral vision thought i saw something long and dark lying against the baseboard. I did a double take- and sure enough, an intimidating adult centipede was heading into my shower. I snatched up the crowbar and began chasing it around the floor at harrowing speeds- this one wasn't sedated like his contemporaries! The worst is when they panic (which appears to me more like attack mode) and run toward you. Its unnerving. Anyhow, i finally managed to crush speed racer- and he too got flushed. The crowbar defended its "undefeated" title, and tonight looked like two for two.
Well, just to be prudent, I decided to check the bathroom a few minutes later to ensure it wasn't some sort of invasion... so i stuck my head in and did a rapid floor scan. Nothing out of the ordinary. As i turned to go, i just stopped in my tracks: a fat cane spider was impudently sprawled on the counter beside the sink. Seriously? I should solicit a contract with the wildlife channel. I grabbed a book from beside the toilet and gave a stealthy smack- followed by a short chase of my then substantially impaired quarry. I didn't even dignify it with a flush. No need to waste water. I scooped the arachnid remains into the trash can with a used kleenex.
Three for three.
The bathroom is cleared (for now). And now i can go to sleep in peace.
