Witch cater under house is a phenomenon that has been observed in various parts of the world. It refers to the presence of caterpillars of certain moth species underneath houses or other structures. These caterpillars are often referred to as witch caterpillars due to their eerie appearance and mysterious behavior. Witch caterpillars are usually found in damp and dark areas such as basements, crawl spaces, or foundations. They are commonly seen during certain times of the year when they emerge to feed on wood or other organic materials. This behavior can lead to damage to the structure if left unchecked.

Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween?

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Cydney Grannan was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopædia Britannica. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Chicago in 2016.

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The jack-o’-lantern has a long history with Halloween, although our favorite demonic faces haven’t always been carved out of pumpkins.

Their origin comes from an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain. When Jack died, God didn’t allow him into heaven, and the Devil didn’t let him into hell, so Jack was sentenced to roam the earth for eternity. In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul. When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S., they began carving jack-o’-lanterns from pumpkins, as these were native to the region.

But how did jack-o’-lanterns become associated with Halloween? Halloween is based on the Celtic festival Samhain, a celebration in ancient Britain and Ireland that marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new year on November 1. It was believed that during Samhain the souls of those who had died that year traveled to the otherworld and that other souls would return to visit their homes.

Halloween has roots in the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, which was observed in ancient Britain and Ireland on November 1st. (more)

In the 8th century CE, the Roman Catholic Church moved All Saints’ Day, a day celebrating the church’s saints, to November 1. This meant that All Hallows’ Eve (or Halloween) fell on October 31. Traditions from Samhain remained, such as wearing disguises to hide yourself from the souls wandering around your home. The folklore about Stingy Jack was quickly incorporated into Halloween, and we’ve been carving pumpkins—or turnips—ever since.

75 Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas To DIY This Halloween

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As Halloween creeps closer and closer, your window of time for finding the perfect pumpkin to carve up is getting smaller. However, that shouldn't stop you from reserving your tickets to the local pumpkin patch (and snapping some photos while y0u're there)—or, let's be real, driving up to your local grocery store and selecting a last-minute gourd to decorate your front stoop with. You don't even have to carve your pumpkin to create a ghastly entryway for trick-or-treaters to approach on the spooky holiday, but if you're a Halloween traditionalist and you're set on carving your pumpkin, we have a few jack-o'-lantern ideas you won't want to pass up.

The easiest way to prepare your pumpkin carving station is by setting down a layer of newspaper or plastic sheeting on your table to avoid the inevitable mess of cutting open your orange gourd. When it comes to actually carving the pumpkin, it's best to use a serrated knife. Traditionally, a hole is cut on the top of the pumpkin, which makes sense for a more stable carving space. However, it's easier to pull the innards out to hollow the gourd if you cut the hole on the bottom. Just be careful when balancing on the stem at the top. Keep a large bowl on hand to scoop the slimy guts into, and save the seeds for roasting as a little reward once you're finished with your masterpiece and enjoying a frightening read.

We'd recommend drawing the face or design onto your pumpkin before carving it up so you make fewer mistakes along the way. But hey, if you do mess up, you could always incorporate the mistake into the design! Whatever style you're going for this year, whether that's a cute pumpkin face or a terrifying monster, use our list of 75 creative jack-o'-lanterns for pumpkin carving inspiration.

Wicked Witch Pumpkin Carving Stencil

Our pumpkin stencil designs come in 3 forms. Digital Printable Stencil, Stencil Paper only, or Complete Carving kit. Read below for details on each of these product types.

EasyCarve™ Printable Stencil - This item is a digital template. Upon purchase, you will receive an email with a download link to download the actual stencil for the above design. The file comes in PDF format. Simply open, print, and adhere to your pumpkin!

EasyCarve™ Sticky Stencil Paper - This item is a physical version of the above stencil printed on our exclusive EasyCarve™ Sticky Stencil Paper. This special paper is printed with your design and shipped to you. This special paper allows you to stick the stencil directly on the pumpkin and carve the printed design through the paper directly into the pumpkin. No taping, no gluing, no tracing or poking holes. Carve directly through the pattern paper into the pumpkin.

EasyCarve™ Complete Carving Kit - This item is a kit and contains everything you need to carve the above design. The kit contains the stencil shown above printed on our exclusive EasyCarve™ Sticky Stencil Paper, 3-piece Deluxe Carving tool kit, and a Remote Control 16-color LED Pumpkin Light.

If ordering the EasyCarve™ Sticky Stencil Paper or the EasyCarve™ Complete Carving Kit, you will also receive the digital version of the stencil just in case you need to print another copy.

78 Cool Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Try This Halloween

Whether you're a beginner or an expert carver, try your hand at these scary and funny designs at home.

There's no shortage of festive Halloween crafts to try with family and friends, but pumpkin carving is one of the best! Carving out scary, funny and cute pumpkin faces is an entertaining Halloween activity for all ages. There are zipper-mouthed pumpkins, smiling wicked witches, zombies, ghouls, candy monsters and so many more simple pumpkin carving ideas that'll boost your spooky decor on October 31. So, to get your creative juices flowing, gather your little ghouls and gals for a night of DIYing their jack-o'-lanterns with the ideas below.

Whether you're a beginner or an avid crafter, you're sure to appreciate these fun carving designs. We have a range of frightening looks based on classic Halloween movies, like the friendly ghosts from Casper or a blood-sucking pumpkin vampire based on Dracula. There are creepy crawler pumpkins and faces with lopsided grins. And we can't forget about the cooler ideas, including a pumpkin diorama and a mini pumpkin playhouse, that you'll want to last all season long.

After choosing an idea from our list below, grab your carving tools — X-Acto knives, cookie cutters, tea light candles and these printable carving stencils — to express your creativity. And if you're looking for more Halloween decorating inspiration, we have some of the best no-carve and painted pumpkin ideas too!

This behavior can lead to damage to the structure if left unchecked. The presence of witch caterpillars under a house can be a cause for concern. Some species have stinging hairs or toxic properties that can cause allergic reactions or skin irritations in humans.

Punched Pumpkins

You can design your heirloom pumpkins and gourds with the spookiest cutouts using cookie cutters! After prepping and cleaning the pumpkins, push sturdy metal cookie cutters into them (think bats, skeletons, ghosts and vampires!).

Use a rubber mallet to hammer the cookie cutters through their flesh and save the cutouts. Cut out smaller details with a round hole cutter, before spraying vinegar on the carved areas so they last longer. Mix and match the punched cutouts to create a colorful pumpkin pattern.

Additionally, the feeding behavior of these caterpillars can weaken the structure of the house, leading to potential structural issues. To prevent or address the issue of witch caterpillars under a house, it is essential to inspect and seal any cracks or openings in the foundation or walls where they may enter. This can help to reduce the likelihood of their presence and prevent potential damage. If witch caterpillars are already present, it may be necessary to consult with a professional pest control service to safely remove and eliminate them. It is crucial not to attempt to handle or remove them without proper knowledge or protective equipment. In conclusion, witch caterpillars under a house can be a nuisance and potential threat to both the structure and occupants. Taking preventive measures and seeking professional help if needed can help to mitigate the issue and ensure a safe and sound living environment..

Reviews for "Witch on the Property: How to Deal with a Witch Living under your House"

1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Witch Cater Under House" but I found it extremely disappointing. The plot felt disjointed and it was hard to follow the storyline. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I felt like the book had great potential but it fell short in execution.

2. Michael - 1/5 - "Witch Cater Under House" was one of the worst books I have ever read. The story was confusing and the pacing was all over the place. It felt like the author was trying to cram too many ideas into a single book without properly developing any of them. The dialogue was unnatural and the characters were flat. I struggled to finish reading it and would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Witch Cater Under House" but it let me down. The writing was overly descriptive and lacked finesse. The world-building was weak, and I struggled to visualize the setting. The main character was uninteresting and her actions felt forced. The book had potential for an intriguing plot, but it failed to deliver. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable read and wouldn't recommend it.

The Witch's Lair: Uncovering the Secrets of a Witch's Home Under a House