I don't mind cockroaches. They're kinda cute, and besides, if you squish them their guts come spurting out of their exoskeleton.
But I have the most horrifying tale of invertebrate terror
ever. Gather ye 'round, children, and listen good!
This was when I was doing volunteer conservation work, planting trees and weeding areas etc. One time the team decided to go on a bushwalk, through a national park. It was
pouring with rain when we went, which put a dampener (har har) on the whole thing. Still, we trudged along for hours and then got back to the van.
I was pretty used to getting leeches, so I wasn't too worried when I had a couple. I burnt one off with a lighter, the other one became dislodged when I rolled my pants leg up to check. Later on at home, I took a hot shower and discovered one more on my stomach. Still, no big deal, some hot water got rid of it. I finish my shower and go to make myself a nice, hot cup of coffee.
I think I'd just put in the sugar when I realise my nose is bleeding.
Not one to freak out over the occasional nosebleed, I go to rinse it out in the bathroom sink, rubbing at my nose to clear it.
Blood keeps fountaining out, I'm getting a bit worried, and then I feel a strange pressure in my nose and suddenly, with a sort-of
pfthfft sound, a fat, bloated leech shoots out of my poor nostril and goes splat in the sink.
I just stared at it for a long moment, horrified.
Then I smushed it into little pieces. God, that was
horrifying. It was the leech which had come off my leg, I'd assumed it was long gone. Somehow it had clung to my clothing, survived a scalding hot shower and then come for vengeance.
There was blood everywhere, of course.