Comments on: What was crawling on me?

Question: What was crawling on me?

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:10:59 -0800

What the heck was just crawling on my arm and where did it come from?

I felt something crawling on my arm near the elbow, and when I looked down, I saw this snow-white bug crawling on my arm. It was approximately 1cm in length and was crawling pretty slowly.

I killed it before I could take a picture, but I think that its color would be pretty distinct.

Any ideas as to what this might be with the very limited information I provided? And any idea where this thing may have come from?

By: dersins

dersins — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:25:49 -0800

Other than "snow white" and "bug," can you give us a bit more of a description?

Also, this is just the teensiest bit eponysterical, don't you think....

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:34:13 -0800

Other than "snow white" and "bug," can you give us a bit more of a description?

well, it was rounded, not long...I killed it pretty fast, but I'm pretty sure that it had large rear legs, and kinda resembled a crab (the crustacean).

And when I say it was white, I really mean white. Whiter than a pale albino polar bear.

By: dersins

dersins — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:45:43 -0800

Sounds like maybe a sowbug. Mostly they're gray, but they can be white.

Just be glad it wasn't one of the giant aquatic ones.

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:00:27 -0800

No, that's definitely not it.

It kinda looked like a tiny version of this.

By: Jacen

Jacen — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:29:42 -0800

Termite? maggot? some sort of ant?

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:34:29 -0800

Termite? maggot? some sort of ant?

No, not those. I'm just really nervous because I'm in law enforcement and I had to deal with some realy disgusting people today. And obviously I have NEVER seen this before in my life.

If it helps any, I live in north-central Vermont.

By: TryTheTilapia

TryTheTilapia — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:35:47 -0800

Crab spider? Scroll down.

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:40:29 -0800

Might be the crab spider, but my friend is telling me that it looked kinda hairy/fuzzy. I don't remember that detail, but it's possible. I don't believe it had a large abdomen like the crab spides has.

By: tehloki

tehloki — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:56:19 -0800

I'm guessing it was some sort of wood louse. Termites are a bit more common, but they don't usually leave the ground. Are you sure it wasn't something winged, like a moth, and appeared larger than it actually was?

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:17:37 -0800

The thing was the size of a large tick but definitely wasnt and didn't have wings (unless they are built like a lady bug's)

By: bkeene12

bkeene12 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:20:12 -0800

I think it is a spider. I have seen them while riding my four wheeler. They are small and seem to have a snow white down to them, it almost looks like it had some sort of white fuzz on it. Despite my best efforts I have been unable to locate the name of this spider.

By: Womanscientist

Womanscientist — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:33:59 -0800

I wouldn't dismiss the tick idea immediately. I've seen some middling to large sized white ticks in my day. No idea what type though.......

By: Liosliath

Liosliath — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:50:06 -0800

Maybe a mealybug? They can be found in Vermont.

Anyway, I have to say that the mental image of a tough law enforcement officer freaking out about a bug is just fantastic. Dude, just brush it off next time - then you can get a good pic of the (unsquashed) mystery insect.

By: Baby_Balrog

Baby_Balrog — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:56:59 -0800

Silverfish?

By: Baby_Balrog

Baby_Balrog — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:57:48 -0800

Also, mealybugs are teeny tiny.

By: Liosliath

Liosliath — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:55:25 -0800

Well, 1cm is teeny-tiny. Mealybugs average around 3mm - maybe he overestimated because of the freak-out factor?

By: C17H19NO3

C17H19NO3 — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:02:10 -0800

It looked a little like the meelybug, but the rear legs were easily visible from the rear of its body. I think it had six legs at the most, and it was shaped like a tick, not elongated.

Anyway, I have to say that the mental image of a tough law enforcement officer freaking out about a bug is just fantastic.

I just don't want it to be something that could potentially cause health problems. I'm the same way when dealing with people that have open wounds, are vomiting, urinating, defecating, and even spitting.