Currently viewing the category: "Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs"
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Giant Water Bug from Greece

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: beetle?
Location: thassos, greece
May 20, 2013 12:27 am
Hi, we found it on the beach , I ’ve never seen so big insect around, can you determine it?
Signature: george

Giant Water Bug

Hi George,
This is a Giant Water Bug in the family Belostomatidae.  They are predatory aquatic insects that are also capable of flight when their habitat dries up.  Giant Water Bugs are commonly called Toe-Biters in North America, because although they are not aggressive toward humans, they will give a painful bite if carelessly handled or accidentally encountered.

 

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Water Scorpion from Thailand

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Bug discovered in Koh Phangan
Location: Chaloklum, Koh Phangan, Thailand
May 2, 2013 8:52 am
Found this bug next to the pool, it was not frightened of water and used its two back legs to rub the water off its back. The two large pincers at the front were also used for walking.
Signature: Emma and Maz

Water Scorpion

Water Scorpion

Dear Emma and Maz,
We are thrilled to post your photo because we haven’t received an identification request for a Water Scorpion in quite some time.  Water Scorpions are aquatic True Bugs that reportedly have a very painful bite.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Toe-Biter from Canada

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Subject: Palmetto beetle
Location: Central Canada
April 26, 2013 5:02 am
Please help me identify the creature found in springtime in Quebec, Canada (not a hot climate)…it’s about 2” in length…
Signature: Marie

Toe-Biter

Toe-Biter

Dear Marie,
A Palmetto Bug is a common name for the large American Cockroaches found in the south.  This is a Giant Water Bug, a common name for a predatory aquatic True Bug.  Giant Water Bugs are sometimes called Toe-Biters because of the painful bite they can inflict on unwary swimmers and waders.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Toe-Biter

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs · 5 Comments

Subject: Curious what this bug is
Location: North Central Pennsylvania
April 15, 2013 9:42 am
I have a friend trying to identify this bug and have looked all around and cant seem to figure out what it is. Can you help?
Signature: Eric

Toe-Biter

Toe-Biter

Hi Eric,
This is a Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Toe-Biter

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: What is this very large bug?
Location: upstate new york
April 11, 2013 1:43 pm
Found this in upstate new york walking along the sidewalk at 3:00 pm on April 11th 2013. When it flipped over it had a hard time rolling back, it had wings but also very large scorpion like claws. What is it!!!???
Signature: bug

Giant Water Bug

Giant Water Bug

This is a Giant Water Bug and it is commonly called a Toe-Biter.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Toe-Biter

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs Tagged With: · 1 Comment

Subject: Large insect found
Location: Arcata, CA
April 3, 2013 11:22 pm
I found this in a parking lot at 11:00PM. Its body is 2.5” from head to tip of abdomen. It has one hell of a grip, but with some gentle coaxing it came on to my sleeve.
Signature: Brandon

On Wed, Apr 3, 2013 at 11:22 PM, Whats That Bug? <bugman@whatsthatbug.com> wrote:
Thank you for submitting your identification request.
Please understand that we have a very small staff that does this as a labor of love. We cannot answer all submissions (not by a long shot). But we’ll do the best we can!

Nevermind, it’s a Giant Water Bug! I’m really glad it didn’t bite me now that I’ve read about them.

Toe-Biter

Toe-Biter

Hi Brandon,
We are happy you identified your Giant Water Bug without our assistance.  We like the common name Toe-Biter.  Giant Water Bugs are found in many places thoughout the world, including Bolivia, Costa Rica, India, Namibia and Australia where they are called Fish Killers.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Giant Water Bug from South Africa

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs · Add Comment

Subject: scorpion roach?
Location: durban south africa
March 4, 2013 1:17 pm
Hello
I was on my way home last night when I saw this peculiar bug. It’s roughly 10cm long and moves with those large mandibles at the front. I am in durban in south africa. I’ve never seen anything like it.
James
Signature: james

Giant Water Bug

Giant Water Bug

Hi James,
This is a Giant Water Bug in the family Belostomatidae, and in North America they are commonly called either Electric Light Bugs because they are attracted to lights at night, or Toe-Biters because they can deliver a nasty bite to unwary swimmers in lakes and ponds.  Giant Water Bugs are aquatic predators that are capable of flight, a valuable skill when ponds dry out.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Backswimmer

On · Category: Toe Biters and other Aquatic True Bugs Tagged With: · Add Comment

Subject: Sry for another request but I like to know the critters I shoot are….
Location: Ypsilanti MI
February 18, 2013 12:59 pm
This water beetle was in my pool last summer 2011. It was really cool to watch dive under with its air bubble on its back…is this a diving beetle? :/
Signature: Rachel R

Backswimmer

Dear Rachel,
This is not a beetle, but rather, it is an aquatic True Bug, a Backswimmer, most likely in the genus Notonecta.  Because of the painful bite, they are commonly called Water Bees or Water Wasps according to BugGuide.

Im glad Im askin cus Ive been wrong twice now lol Thank you soo much for the info on my critter pics :) ) :) ) Great site for bug info:))

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination