Bug Storm

Last night, we had our first full fledged storm of the big brown flying termites that always accompany rainy season here. These are among my favorite bugs here in Bali, even though they make a God awful mess of the house when they breeze in through the windows and doors. Still, even a thousand of these guys are preferable to one cockroach. The trick, of course, is to quickly shut your door and windows and turn off the lights, to which they are attracted, leaving on the porch light in order to tempt them to stay outside the house. But, as I've said, they show up suddenly, like a clap of thunder, and there is often not enough time to set up the proper defense mechanisms. The termites come just before or just after a rainstorm, just at the height of humidity. They fly only briefly, soon losing their wings which then cover the floor and counters and furniture like a dusting of snow. The little bugs themselves run around without their wings and are soon gobbled up by the house lizards, for they are a special delicacy to these repilian creatures. Also, if you happen to have one of the shy larger lizards such as the tokek in your house, you will soon find out as it creeps out of hiding to join in the feast. I recall that Sparky the dog also enjoyed snacking on these bugs, but note that Takut the dog has no taste for them, leaving me to clean up by myself--though of course I don't eat them, but sweep them out the door. Even so, one will still be finding the wings days afterwards, and even a scurrying leftover bug here and there.