Unknown creature who washed ashore…(I don’t think photo went through last time, sorry)
Location: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, wet sand at southernmost end of Lake Michigan.
August 9, 2011 7:11 am
We were on the beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore when I noticed this bug(?) moving in the sand after a wave washed it onto the beach. Even though I’ve taken multiple wildlife courses in the Dunes and could identify every sand cherry and jack pine growing there, I’m at a loss with this little guy.
One thing that doesn’t come across well in the photo is that this creature seemed to have beady little eyestalks that moved independently. For that reason, I thought this was some sort of freshwater crustacean at first glance, but it doesn’t look too much like a shrimp either.
I’d love to learn about this little guy.
Signature: Kitsa
Water Scorpion
re: beach bug
Location: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, wet sand at southernmost end of Lake Michigan.
August 9, 2011 7:22 am
After some more research (just had to get myself pointed in the right direction), I see that it’s a water scorpion. Glad I kept my distance, but what a neat bug 
Signature: Kitsa
Dear Kitsa,
We are happy to see that it took you only 11 minutes to self identify your Water Scorpion and to write back letting us know. While they are not dangerous, Water Scorpions are reported to have a painful bite. They are True Bugs that have piercing mouthparts adapted to sucking fluids from their prey, mainly small aquatic creatures including insects, tadpoles and even small fish which they catch with their raptorial front legs while waiting camouflaged among vegetation.
Big Scary Beetle!!
Location: Minnesota
August 6, 2011 8:04 am
We were out looking at a car last night, and saw this big ugly bug on the lot. It flies. And has freakishly large pincers/legs. WHAT IS THIS THING??
Signature: Austen
Toe-Biter
Hi Austen,
We hope you picked out a nice fuel efficient vehicle. This is not a Beetle. It is a Giant Water Bug, a True Bug. As its name implies, it is an aquatic species, and we are surprised that you have not encountered one before since you live in the “land of a 1000 lakes” which we suspect is prime habitat for this large predator. Giant Water Bugs are also excellent fliers, and they are attracted to strong lights. Often great numbers congregate in well lighted parking lots and at nighttime sporting events, owing to another common name, Electric Light Bug. Our favorite common name, Toe-Biter, is attributed to the their habit of biting unwary swimmers, especially in ponds and lakes. The bite of a Toe-Biter is reported to be quite painful. Though they are not a venomous species, they inject enzymes for the digestion of prey when they bite that causes pain and swelling. They are not blood suckers, and they only bite humans out of defense. Their typical prey includes aquatic insects, tadpoles and small fish which they capture with their raptorial forelegs.
what’s this bug?
Location: Maytown, WA
July 12, 2011 1:17 pm
Can you please help identify this insect? It was found in the evening on July 11, 2011 in western Washington in a town called Maytown.
Thanks for your help
Signature: Mandy
Toe-Biter
Dear Mandy,
This Giant Water Bug is also known as a Toe-Biter or an Electric Light Bug. It is one of our most common identification requests, though we haven’t posted a new photo in a little while. The raptorial front legs of your specimen seem particularly developed, though it might just be the camera angle.
Thank you very much for your reply. This guy was developed very well. We see these every now and then so it’s nice to finally be able to have a name to associate.
Mandy
this bug is the first like it i have ever seen.
Location: texas
June 21, 2011 12:13 am
I found this bug in my kitchen sink. It makes a loud chirp/ squeal. I live on a lake in south Texas. It has visible eyes and its front legs look like it uses them to eat.
Signature: Jeanette Stockman
Toe-Biter
Hi Jeanette,
We love your photo. This is a Giant Water Bug and it is also commonly called a Toe-Biter. Though it is an aquatic insect, we doubt that it was attracted to your sink as a water source, and it is also not interested in food scraps as it is a very proficient predator. Another common name for the Giant Water Bug is Electric Light Bug, and we believe it was probably attracted to a light over the sink.
Rain brought its surprise too..what would be this?
Jun 13, 2011
Dear Sir,
Its raining out here in Kerala, India. Rain brought its surprise too..what would be this?
Hope you could recognize this.
Regards
Ibrahim TMC
Kerala
India.
Giant Water Bug
Dear Ibrahim,
We get photos of Giant Water Bugs from all over the world, and they are easy to identify to the family level, though identifying species may present us with considerable difficulty because they all look so similar. You did not indicate how large this Giant Water Bug is, but in nearby Thailand, they grow to five inches and they are eaten as culinary delights. In North America, Giant Water Bugs are called Toe-Biters.
Giant Water Bug
Dear sir,
The waterbug which I sent earlier measured 7.5 cms.
Regards
Ibrahim TMC
¶ Posted 15 June 2011 § ‡ ° Pennsylvania beast
Location: Southwestern PA, USA rural setting, open fields and woods.
June 4, 2011 7:36 am
Tis insect was found early June, 2011, in southwestern PA. Two inches in length
Signature: Karen
Toe-Biter
Hi Karen,
This Giant Water Bug in the genus Leptoglossus is also known as an Electric Light Bug and as a Toe-Biter. The alarming name Toe-Biter is somewhat offputting, and though it presents a distinct possibility, it should probably be clarified. Giant Water Bugs might bite a person if they are carelessly handled, and the bite is reported to be quite painful, but we rarely if ever get reports of anyone being bitten by the notorious Toe-Biter despite it being one of our Top 10 identification requests. It is believed that the common name Toe-Biter originated with bites reported by children while swimming in freshwater ponds. If stepped on in shallow water, it is almost a certainty that a Toe-Biter will live up to its name. In preparation for our staff taking a holiday the second week in June, we are preparing this posting to go live to our site on June 12.
¶ Posted 12 June 2011 § ‡ ° Tagged: Top 10 Beetle from Puerto Rico
Location: Puerto Rico
May 18, 2011 8:44 pm
This picture was taken by my friend in Puerto Rico. We were curious what kind of beetle this is and if it is indigenous to the island.
Signature: Giancarlo
Toe-Biter
Dear Giancarlo,
This Toe-Biter is a Giant Water Bug, not a beetle. In addition to being aquatic, they are capable of flight and they are attracted to lights. It is indigenous to Puerto Rico.
what the heck is this??
Location: Aransas Pass, Texas
May 4, 2011 11:28 pm
hey i found this bug outside the local Whataburger. I live in Aransas Pass, Texas and the Whataburger is next to a field which gets flooded when it rains (not sure if it was wet at the time but just thought i’d add that in there)
i’ve seen a few of these but only on sidewalks and in the parkinglot of Whataburger.
Signature: Thanks, Tye
Giant Water Bug
Hi Tye,
This is a Giant Water Bug, the largest True Bug in North America. It is commonly called a Toe-Biter and it is a aquatic predator. Like all True Bugs, it has piercing and sucking mouthparts that it uses to suck the fluids from its prey, generally small aquatic insects, small fish and tadpoles. They can bite humans if they are mishandled or accidentally contacted in the water, and many a person has been bitten while playing in ponds and lakes, hence the common name Toe-Biter. Giant Water Bugs fly quite well and they are also attracted to electric lights. For that reason they are also commonly called Electric Light Bugs. We imagine that Whataburger has bright lights in the parking lot. That along with the flooded field probably explains its appearance. Toe-Biters, because of their large size and unusual appearance, are one of our most common identification requests.
¶ Posted 05 May 2011 § ‡ ° 
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