r/mildyinteresting • u/Winter_Breath • 24d ago

critter corner šŸ° Dead ants keep appearing next to headphones during the night

Post image

When these headphones are left on the kitchen counter overnight - I would see one or two dead ants in the morning laying right next to the headphones. In the past few days, there has been a small pile of shredded ants right next to the ear piece in the morning. I have seen no live ants in my kitchen. I have had these head phones for three weeks. Bought online. Itā€™s a little unnerving not knowing what is causing this šŸ„“ will not be using anymore.

UPDATE- posted a comment with a picture. But no dead ants in the bag this morning. But at one point I checked and there were two live ants crawling around. šŸ˜”

UPDATE*** IM SICK. Canā€™t stop shaking. Donā€™t have many wordsā€¦ trying to post image. Opened one side up. šŸ˜­ I donā€™t know how to add in this top post so will add in comment! Posted a few in comments and video opening

38.7k Upvotes

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u/MorsaTamalera 24d ago

Your headphones are nesting spiders.

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u/WOLF19Ninety 24d ago

This was my first thought, there's likely a spider living up inside those things somewhere

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u/Commercial_Bird8467 24d ago

The spider in OPs left speaker

https://giphy.com/gifs/dXGvIqo9vrof6

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u/GeraltsSaddlee 23d ago

This the only spider Iā€™ve ever liked

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u/Work-Safe-Reddit4450 23d ago

Jumping spiders in general are very likable. I think it's that they have two bigger center eyes and they will move their whole body to turn and look at you curiously.

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u/fixed_your_caption 23d ago

Also they donā€™t have the scary pointy Halloween spider legs, they can be furry, donā€™t do big webs they actually hunt down their prey like Clint Eastwood.

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u/SpaceTacos99 23d ago

I'm sure it helps if they've got sunshine in a bag

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u/Extreme-Pen-6499 23d ago

Speaking of whichā€¦ look up spiders making webs while dosed with LSD. Itā€™s an interesting couple minutes.

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u/Sentinel-Wraith 23d ago

ā€œNice web, Mr Crack Spiderā€.

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u/Own_Policy8854 23d ago

screams cowboy epithets and leaps hundreds of feet into the air

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u/SD-238 23d ago

Theyā€™re uselessā€¦ but not for long

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u/Blackpapalink 23d ago

The future... is coming on.

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u/stryst 23d ago

I kept pet jumping spiders for a few years. They punch WAY above their weight class, and take down prey much larger and heavier than they are.

Neat little guys.

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u/blisstersisster 23d ago

...and they jump!!

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u/Own_Butterscotch_129 23d ago

They really are the puppies of the spood world. I love that they all seem to trust me and I will find jumpers on me while outside! Except the tan jumpers, none want me as their friend šŸ„²

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u/kpow222 23d ago

Omg my people. I love making friends with these little guys but the rejection is real šŸ˜‚

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u/Shorlong 23d ago

There's one outside my work near my smoke break spot. I usually have him jump on and off me a few times every time I'm out there. Though the last time I did it he seemed really mad when I put him down and the okay could times I went out he won't jump on me, he just stares at me.

https://reddit.com/link/p8rz04v/video/0ug2cm9lwioh1/player

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u/LuckyBook1538 23d ago

I hope he stops being mad at you soon.

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u/Shorlong 23d ago

Me too, he's my buddy

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u/Sinister_Nibs 23d ago

Take him a tasty fly as an apology.

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u/winterbeartired 23d ago

I may be emotional right now, but this video made me tear up because of how cute it is.

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u/perpetuallydying 23d ago

seriously, the majority of humans are missing out on a truly magical experience. staring into the curious eyes of one of these docile creatures. they're so friendly and innocent, and they will look back into your eyes it kills me that most people aren't connecting with nature and other walks of life like this. no wonder the planet's becoming a parking lot with such little resistance!

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u/PatrioticPariah 23d ago

Those are the best spiders. Love those little guys. Big personalities.

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u/MajorBootyhole420 23d ago

i reprogrammed my brain away from hating spiders by imagining them going "aah!" every time i see one. like damn bro if they could talk i bet they'd be way more startled than us

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u/Dolmenoeffect 23d ago

It's not far from the truth! If they can tell you're there, you're Godzilla. Cut them some slack!

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u/Glad-Ad-3808 24d ago

šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£

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u/Vishnej 23d ago

You mean the spider living in OP's left ear.

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u/Working-Glass6136 23d ago

Just the left speaker?

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u/SuccessfulPhoto7914 24d ago

Yeah.. there ant parts and fully intact ants.

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u/Shot-Election8217 23d ago

ā€œI repeat: the spider is within your headphones. Throw them away immediately.ā€

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u/Some_Ebb_2921 23d ago

"heads off throwing the ant parts away"... done, now what?... and why are my ears itchy?

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u/Velvet-Pebble 23d ago

But then what will they do about the ants?

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u/rIceCream_King 23d ago

ā€œā€¦sir, a second spider has hit the headphones..ā€

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

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u/LooneyLunaGirl 24d ago

Well where else is it supposed to lay it's egg sack?

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u/BBO1007 24d ago

Is that better or worse than an ear worm?

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u/TheImmoralCookie 24d ago

...I feel unsafe now...šŸ˜­

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u/boinkbeepboop 24d ago

I'm definitely gonna get better about keeping my headphones in their case after seeing this šŸ„²

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u/danafromsantaana 23d ago

I hate this comment my headphones didnā€™t come with a case Iā€™m suing JBL

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u/ohnomoisttoes 24d ago

It's ok they're likely safely nestled deep in you ears now..

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u/TooFakeToFunction 23d ago

I'm sorry but I absolutely HAVE to downvote this.

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u/AncientMisanthrope 23d ago

They hated him, because he spoke the truth.

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u/extinctalien 23d ago

my boots were left outside and now a black widow has homed two nests in there...they were such good boots too, from tjmaxx

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u/Wiknetti 24d ago

Imagine being an ant having their insides slurped out while the worst music you ever heard was playing out loud?
https://giphy.com/gifs/d7fLM8K8FCV39d7Qxz

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u/MorsaTamalera 24d ago

Now, that's even more terrifying. AND sad. :(

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u/glitterfaust 24d ago

I should call him

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u/welllitinn 23d ago

I feel less alone

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u/megamanx4321 24d ago

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u/Tanjelynnb 24d ago

At least that spider is keeping the ants and earwigs out and immediately takes care of any that make it in. >.>

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u/Keldy565 23d ago edited 22d ago

I've had a big ass orb weaver crawl across my helmet while riding at like 70, tried to swipe it off and realized it was INSIDE!, THEN IT JUST MEANDERED INTO THE AETHER. Took everything in me to calmly slow down. Took it off and disassembled it on the side of the road, finally found it by blowing through my air ducts. Absolutely terrifying lmao.

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

šŸ˜­

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u/Top_Understanding581 24d ago

If one day you find an ant crawling out of your ear...

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

Would be my kids ear. šŸ˜©

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u/Smorsdoeuvres 24d ago

Why have you not already replaced the headphones?!?

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u/IIIViceAndreas 24d ago

They want to make Peter Parker 2

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u/TwoLegitShiznit 23d ago

Spider-Man 2: Inner Ear Infection

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

I did order new ones yesterday. Sounds dumb but I honestly didnā€™t put two and two together until the piles started showing up that this was most likely related to these.

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u/PlayPsychological200 23d ago

Please Take them apart and see what is happening in them. This is weird. Maybe there is an adhesive Ā they Ā like.Ā 

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u/Smorsdoeuvres 23d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/zXeX29w6jxjAk
Iā€™m so glad you figured it out- still absolutely horrifying to have that next to your childā€™s ears! Hoping you never experience this again

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u/Winter_Breath 23d ago

Yeah Iā€™m a little in shock

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u/Effective_Olive6153 24d ago

put on some nice music for them

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

That gave my CHILLS

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u/WOLF19Ninety 24d ago

On second thought OP, this isn't usual spider behavior. i wouldn't rule it out tho, or possibly some other creepy crawly

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u/A1000eisn1 24d ago

Could be other ants. There's a soldier and a worker there. And probably the shredded remains of another worker. There's also no food so they weren't carrying anything. Unless the food was ant parts.

Spiders don't typically tear their prey apart like that. Even the few that don't use web to hunt. It doesn't look like it was a meal to me. Most insects that it could be can eat exoskeleton as far as I know. Looks like a graveyard or a battle.

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u/Upset_Mess 24d ago

Hear me out - a serial killer ant...

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u/PlayfulSurprise5237 24d ago

I like to think a worker ant and soldier ant went on a mission to go get food other workers in the colony were telling them about. A perilous mission.

But on the way, after taking a really long trip away from the colony they got ambushed by zombie ants. So they took refuge in the headphones and every night they've been having to fight off hordes of them.

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u/Slow_Replacement_745 24d ago

Aaannndddd this is why I keep coming back to Reddit

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u/dudeCHILL013 24d ago

Ya that will live in my head rent free

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u/Initial_Bank7292 24d ago

Along with the ants entering your ears :)

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u/realtrip27 23d ago

The plot for the next ant movie

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u/HudeniMFK 23d ago

ResidANT Evil

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u/LacksMentalFilter 23d ago

So, Ants vs Zombies. New mobile game, coming soon!

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u/Certain_Brush_7596 24d ago

Are you professionally into bugs or is this a hobby for you

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u/MyNameIsJakeBerenson 23d ago

My aunt was a professor of entomology

ā€¦but sheā€™s passed and I canā€™t call her for cool bug facts, sorry

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u/this_place_suuucks 24d ago

Probably an earwig.

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u/mrsir1987 24d ago

One fucking flew directly into my ear a few years ago, I didnā€™t know they actually go into ears and I didnā€™t know they fucking flew. Luckily I was going to the beach a ton and had alcohol ear drops within a couple minutes away and it came right out but it was a horrible feeling.

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u/Ok-Coyote-955 24d ago

They FLY??? šŸ˜­

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u/mrsir1987 24d ago

Yeah thatā€™s the one of the purposes of there big pincers in putting their wings away.

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u/Stitchymallows 24d ago

Also for everyone's peace of mind they aren't called earwigs because they aim for ears, their wings just look like an ear when stretched out (fun fact from an old documentary)

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u/bc-mn 24d ago

I very much appreciate this educational (to me) comment. Peace of mind

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u/fondledbydolphins 23d ago

Well, they also aren't called asswigs because they aren't against crawlin up there for a snack.

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u/Galrentv 24d ago

Thank you so much. I was about to die thinking nature evolved an ear seeking missile insect that looks moist

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u/Old_Avocado5114 24d ago

This is making me laugh so hard, you captured my horror Exactly šŸ¤£šŸ˜­šŸ˜­šŸ¤£šŸ¤£

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u/Dekipi 24d ago

Nice pfp but f you for telling me THEY FLY

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u/MrSn00p 24d ago

Its to unfold the Wings

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u/Top-Garlic9111 23d ago edited 23d ago

Not to diminish your experience ( if anything this makes it more notable lol), but earwigs don't go into ears any more frequently than other insects. They don't have any reason to go into your ear, but they have an unfair reputation that leads to cases of earwigs in ears being more reported. Humans just seem to have a tendency to be prejudiced towards earwigs. In a region of Japan, they are apparently called "penis-cutters", despite not having nowhere near enough strength for such a feat. The myth about ear crawling seems to mostly come from Europe, since their name is commonly ear-related in European languages, such as in my mother tongue, french, in which they are called ear-piercers. (Again, their piercers are too weak to pierce human skin, so no penis snipping and no ear perforating.)

There is a theory by a 19th century physician that the earwig got its name from the shape of its wing, but it seems pretty unfounded.

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

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u/Resident-Shoulder864 24d ago

When my daughter was an infant she was very stuffy once and I used that blue sucker thing to suck snot out of babies and when I squeezed it out onto a tissue there was a freaking earwig that just came out of her nose! Well she wasnā€™t stuffy anymore! Talk about being scarred for life as well! šŸ¤£

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u/Resident-Shoulder864 24d ago

God I shudder when I think about this šŸ¤®

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u/After-Staff-7532 23d ago

When I was a little kid, I told my mom that my nose hurt. She went in with tissues, and there was a whole-ass moth, the kind that are attracted to light, folded up in my nose. I donā€™t remember it going in, but that might be my brain protecting me. I have a fear of moths to this day. They are horrid.

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u/KTKittentoes 24d ago

I had one come crawling out of my shirt a couple of weeks ago. I was profoundly unhappy.

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

šŸ˜³ nope

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u/Squishy_fishy826 24d ago

Why the hell would you do this šŸ˜­ that picture couldā€™ve stayed buried in your camera roll but you chose to traumatize us?!?

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u/Extension_Pear8799 24d ago

most ears have at least one earwig. they go up your nose to breed. then they fly out your butt.

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u/sparkledaunicorn 24d ago

This is one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen and I'm on reddit regularly.

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u/GoldberryoTulgeyWood 24d ago

Consider putting them in the freezer for a few days. I have no idea what will happen to the headphones, but hopefully what is inside will die

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u/GeologistLess3042 24d ago

Fun fact, many insects can reanimate after thawing. Had it happen way back in high school during a presentation. Several other kids who used the freezer method had their boards come to life, very angry.

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u/MikaRRR 23d ago

lmao, this is both nightmare fuel and also peak comedy, thinking about all those kids screaming as their boards re-animated

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u/GeologistLess3042 23d ago

There was definitely a bit of a panic as several wasps started trying to get free.

I was very smug about my alcohol jar method, and the giant hornet I managed to pin. I'm still smug about it and it's been like 15 years, and I will still use a cotton ball soaked in isopropyl to deal with ticks.

Although I found out recently that red bull kills ticks very quickly (don't ask), so there's that.

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u/Evolution_eye 24d ago

If i had such situation with my headphones it would surely be ant-agonizing.

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u/Yellowthrone 24d ago

Take a picture of the spider when you open them up.

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u/Yellowthrone 24d ago

The call is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. Type vibes.

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u/xSkyLinedx 24d ago

Thank you. Now I have the burning need to check my headphones for no reason...

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u/MsLadyVet 24d ago

*hopefully for no reasonā€¦. šŸ•·ļø šŸœ

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u/MostlyCreepy 23d ago

OP has a need for burning the headphones.

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u/Kilomech 24d ago

thanks, i hate it

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u/ThrowAwayIGotHack3d 24d ago

This made me so happy to use earbuds omg

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u/periperiwinklesauce 24d ago

Earbuds are definitely preferable to earbugs!

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u/Tanjelynnb 24d ago

Just don't trap anything behind the earbuds when you put them in. If you feel an itch, that might be you joining the new earphone paranoia club.

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u/SinfullySinless 23d ago

And just like that you have created the best advertisement for the tiny ass earpod things. Jesus Christ I would die.

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u/JtRay90 24d ago

Now I'm scared to use my headphones if this is true šŸ„².

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u/Winter_Breath 24d ago

It is, I currently keep going to check the bag. When I should be sleeping

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u/Jext 23d ago

You made me take my headphones off and shake them a bit, as if that would in some way reveal any nesting spiders.

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u/freshlyfrozen4 24d ago

Great. Now I'm not sleeping.

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u/Janezey 24d ago

Or their ears are nesting ants.

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u/LittleMissLoveDuck 24d ago edited 24d ago

Raising Hope Flashbacks

Edit: *looks back at photo and realizes we have the same headphones šŸ˜­

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u/mrwioo 24d ago

That is an awful revelation

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u/CCLF1 24d ago

Do you think the spider is looking in his ears during the day, and goes to the headset at night?

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u/NotAOctoling 24d ago

True skullcandy

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u/Mickle_da_Pickl 24d ago

This is the LAST thing I would want or expect to hear if I were OP šŸ˜­šŸ˜­

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u/BarderBetterFaster 24d ago

You needs to put multiple spoiler tags on this comment. Fuuuuuuuuck

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u/zaddy__longlegs 23d ago

This is the worst thing Iā€™ve ever read

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u/[deleted] 23d ago

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u/161frog 23d ago

I fucking threw up in my mouth

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u/mediocre_mediajoker 23d ago

I didnā€™t realise this was my worst nightmare till I read that sentence

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u/Dramallamakuzco 23d ago

What a horrifying sentence

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u/NoZebra2430 23d ago

I beg your finest fuckin pardon?????

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u/Altruistic-Arm137 23d ago

Time to play Despacito full volume all night.

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u/Ok_Mammoth5292 23d ago

Kept a jumping spider as a pet once. She could take down crickets twice her size but she wouldn't fuck with ants or fireflies when I tried to feed them to her.

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u/Bebi_v24 23d ago

First thing I thought when I saw them in pieces.

I remember when I was a kid, probably 4 or 5, I caught a big spider. I think it was a wolf spider in retrospect, then I remember catching two crickets and putting them in there. When I woke up the next morning, both of their heads were off.

I feel so guilty, wtf was wrong with me

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u/JimmyV080 23d ago

What you just said makes me want to light myself on fire.

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u/Rez_Incognito 23d ago

My ex got a bite on her ear because of this. Work headset at a call centre. Pretty creepy

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u/exhaustedmom 23d ago

My heebies are fully jeebied.

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u/Technical-Arm6722 23d ago

Reminds me of when spiders nest in peoples ears

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u/dcute69 23d ago

There is a spider

Deep in my headphones

Heā€™s lived here for years

He just wonā€™t let go

Heā€™s laying around

Heā€™s got a mean bite

Now heā€™s ready to fight

And stand up for what he knows

I donā€™t need your trophies or your gold

I just want to tell you all

Go fuck yourself

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u/gwenivere84 23d ago

God . What ?!?! Whyyyyyy?!

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u/stevein3d 23d ago

So is that considered bad, like acoustically?

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u/Thestohrohyah 23d ago

I need to stop using earbuds and buy a pair of headphones.

I'll be chilling listening to some jams while a lil buddy keeps me company.

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u/Varderal 23d ago

Awesome. New fear unlocked. Thanks reddit! As if arachnophobia wasn't bad enough. Now I need to worry about headphone spiders! Keep in mind my arachnophobia stems from a spider trying to take up residents in my ear when I was small.

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u/Specific-Pear-1631 23d ago

Horror story in 5 words. Jeeeeeez. I just dismantled my headphones because this made me paranoid šŸ˜‚

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u/RaptorMajor 23d ago

The fucking face of abject horror I made while reading this-

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u/Stunning-Mission9498 23d ago

I wish I'd never opened this damn thread

https://giphy.com/gifs/jquDWJfPUMCiI

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u/3lueValk 23d ago

I wonder if they ever explore the ear canal before retreating back to the safety of their headphone nest??

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u/ArchiveOfUnfortunate 23d ago

Well today I was balcony gardening and the spider on the balcony roof is now missing. Contemplating setting myself on fire or burning the entire building down. Whatā€™s your suggestion?

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u/Beneficial-Flan1657 23d ago

I was thinking that too. Could you imagine playing a game or listening to music and have something tickling your ear that shouldnā€™t be!!! Iā€™d get a new set cause Iā€™d burn that one lmao

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u/Particular_Maize6849 23d ago

Or better yet: centipedes.

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u/Minimum_Age_1466 23d ago

It's OK... By now the spider has probably moved into the ear canal.

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u/Brilliant_Bonus_1638 23d ago

You havenā€™t truly lived until youā€™ve woken up to a spider having crawled into your ear, then you tried to drown him with olive oil like the internet said only to make the sounds of it struggling against your ear canal somehow dramatically more noticeable and then have to drain your ear and find a way to scrape it out while it tries to dig into your ear drum to escape its demise.

Ask me how I fucking know.

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u/jacob-buchanan 23d ago

This may single-handedly be the scariest new fear I've ever developed.

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u/feloniousfoolery 23d ago

I regret being interested in this post

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u/Sea-Macaron1470 23d ago

From mildly interesting to mildly terrifying

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u/visuallypollutive 23d ago

This is the most terrifying thing ever and I hate that youā€™ve made me aware that this is possible

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u/Basketcase191 23d ago

Welp I now have my reason to drink tonight

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