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Lissuin
Valinor
May 23 2017, 7:09am
Post #1 of 8
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Re: stick insects of New Zealand and Middle-earth.
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My theory about why we got a stick insect on the tip of a Wizard's tongue in The Hobbit is that they are just completely weird - and they are everywhere in New Zealand and Peter Jackson must love their weirdness. I do. I found two visiting me this morning on the window screen. Can you find them? Are they not one of the weirdest, funniest creatures that could just possibly have lived in Middle-earth? Maybe not in somebody's mouth, but hey, it would not be the strangest creature in Middle-earth.
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Elarie
Grey Havens
May 23 2017, 12:04pm
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Is that really the view from your window? That is wonderful. And the stick insects just add that little extra something, don't they? Note to self - sleep with mouth closed.
__________________ Gold is the strife of kinsmen, and fire of the flood-tide, and the path of the serpent.
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Kilidoescartwheels
Valinor
May 23 2017, 6:23pm
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That view is magnificent! Whereabout do you live? Btw: Yeah, stick insects are weird, but not the weirdest creatures in Middle-earth. Maybe Gollum? There aren't any giant spiders in your area, are there?
I'd say I've entered my second childhood, but I never left the first!
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 23 2017, 7:17pm
Post #4 of 8
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I always sleep with my hair over my ears.
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I want a barrier between my ear canal and any critter who thinks it'd make a cosy little bed.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories
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Elarie
Grey Havens
May 23 2017, 7:51pm
Post #5 of 8
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A couple of weeks ago while gardening I got a bug stuck in my ear for the first time ever. It was SO creepy - I could hear it AND feel it. Ick! Turned out to be an ant, but I couldn't stop thinking about that Star Trek movie and the giant brain control bugs...
__________________ Gold is the strife of kinsmen, and fire of the flood-tide, and the path of the serpent.
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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May 23 2017, 8:16pm
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it's that Star Trek scene that prompted me to cover my ears! Did the ant leave of its own accord or did you have to encourage it out?
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories
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Elarie
Grey Havens
May 23 2017, 8:56pm
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That Star Trek scene made me want to go out and buy up a year's supply of ear muffs. The ant had to be encouraged out with saline solution, then my neighbor found him in my hair. Stubborn little guy!
__________________ Gold is the strife of kinsmen, and fire of the flood-tide, and the path of the serpent.
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Lissuin
Valinor
May 23 2017, 9:05pm
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Ummmm yeah, we do get sort of big spiders.
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The tunnel web was outside, but the vagrant was in the bedroom. Eeeeew! NB: 'Sting' not required - a jar and a piece of cardboard did the trick. Go! Live! Outside, please! But there's only one venomous spider in NZ, the katipo, and that's hardly ever seen. tunnel web spider http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Topic/9426 vagrant spider http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Topic/9439 Interesting fact: Phil Sirvid from Te Papa Museum, Wellington was also the consultant on spiders for The Hobbit films. http://www.stuff.co.nz/...-things-creepycrawly The video features spiders and stick insects. Warning: dead insect collection stuff. Very reasonable response, eh?:
Does the average person in their lifetime eat 8 spiders in their sleep? "I've been asked that question and the thought occurred to me, how would we ever know? It's a silly idea. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if we inadvertently ate spiders in our food but while you're lying in bed and a spider crawls into your mouth? It seems unlikely." But how about ears, Phil? That is the Wairarapa Valley in the photo, 100 km over the Rimutaka Range from Wellington.
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