Every year around this time of year we have close encounters with this little guy.
Hjortelus or Lipoptena cervi in Latin shows up every August through September and greets you happily as you wander into the forest.
They normally prey on deer and elk, sucking their blood. They rarely bite humans and if they do there is no more harm than a little itching that can last for some time.
One, five, ten or more. The more the merrier they seem to think. They crawl into your hair, your clothes and wherever they can find a spot of interest.
They are the worst fliers and once they land on you they cast their wings so that they can crawl into the tightest of spaces.
They look like small spiders but are not. They are flat and hard and almost impossible to squish between two fingers.
Once you leave the forest you have to strip down to make sure you have no more of these little buggers crawling on you.
More than once me or my upper management have found one in our clothes or hair late evenings. Even on the pillow…….
So the big question that remains is this: What the f**k is the idea behind this creation?
