Sure seems like this has been the worst year ever for these things
around Mobile. I'm grounded, so my airplane hasn't suffered, but
everything else has been covered with them. I've vacuumed up hundreds
of them from *inside* the house.

Here in Iowa, we've also had a bumper crop of bugs this fall. Just
last week we hit four of the biggest bugs we've ever seen. We were at
2000 feet, and they were about an inch in diameter. I don't know what
they were, but it was more like hitting a sparrow than a bug. What a
mess!

We're just now starting to see the asian beetles (those nasty little
lady-bug look-alikes, that congregate in the corners of your ceiling,
and stink like hell when you squish 'em) and box elder bugs. Our
house-keepers are just thrilled (not!) that the beetles are back, and
we naturally have to inspect the suites very carefully before each
guest -- those danged little things can get through ANY sized opening.

Box elder bugs, on the other hand, are slow, dumb, and harmless, but
the uninformed can mistake them for a roach, so we've got to be very
careful about shooing them out, too. What fun!

I don't know how you guys can stand it down south, where you must deal
with this year 'round. The first frost can't be too far off, can it?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"