My new familiar

Wyndeleth · Forum Hottie Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 764

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Meefman · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: My new familiar

Cool!!!!!!!! Smile

TerishD · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:06 am Post subject: Re: My new familiar

Ah, he is pretty and those nature people would probably want to eat him. Around here we get things about twice as big, but they are black and red and really look deadly. They are still grasshoppers, and you could hold and pet them (and, I guess, eat them), but I am not into grasshoppers.

Wyndeleth · Forum Hottie Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 764

I'm willing to wager that the black and red (and sometimes orange or yellow) ones you are talking about are the same ones as this one, only the younger stage.

They're called lubbers (the one I'm holding is an Eastern Lubber -- rather small, probably a male).

The black and red ones are the nymph stage, before they grow full wings and change color to mostly yellow.

They hatch out of the ground in spring in the hundreds and can wreck havoc on a garden. By summer, they start to mature to the young adult you see here.

They have a couple of defense mechanisms. For one, they crap on you. I removed the crap before I took the picture. Also, if they are really disturbed, thay can emit a foul smelling foam from under their wings. But I try not to disturb them up to that point.

We don't use pesticides, so we have to deal with them every year. Unfortunately, their coloring deters birds from eating them.

Sanaldo_de_Mirdo · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:19 am Post subject: Re: My new familiar

When I read the thread title, I was expecting a squirrel or something. That's awesome! I love how their biting bits are sideways. It makes their faces look so totally alien. We used to have a cat that would attack them when they came hatching. You'd see her in the back yard for hours pouncing around trying to get one then another, then another until she did. Then she would have this very displeased look on her face and start rubbing her paws on her mouth, presumably to get the icky taste out. But after a bit she was right back at the pouncing.
I have always wanted a character that had, instead of a single animal for a familiar or companion, a swarm or flock of little critters.

Wyndeleth · Forum Hottie Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 764

Place your pre-orders today! They have hatched, and in a couple of weeks this little fella will grow up to be the big badass you see above! You need this for your familiar!

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