Beetle?
Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 9:08 PM
This fat sucker landed on my screen with a WHACK. It sounded like a Junebug – but a little big and more aggressive-looking.
Note that it looks like it only has 2 sets of legs on it’s thorax, and pincers coming out of it’s head… of course I wasn’t getting too close.
It flies!
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – April 27th @ 9pm or so. It was really hot today (27C) – unsually hot for the season.
Please tell me about this lovely new neighbour.
Ottawa has banned chemical pesticides this year, so I assume I will be seeing a few new creatures around.
Any info would be interesting to have. Many thanks!
Jo in Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Giant Water Bug
Hi Jo,
Thanks for the awesome news that Ottawa has banned pesticides this year, though we wonder the extent of the banning. We presume homemakers can still purchase aerosol insecticides, but maybe not. You are lucky that your first encounter with a Giant Water Bug (yes it swims too) was at your screen door where it lived up to its other common name of Electric Light Bug. The common name Toe-Biter stems from hapless swimmers encountering the Giant Water Bug and experiencing its piercing bite. Giant Water Bugs do not habitually bite people, but the occasional encounter and the pain of the bite has led to that colorful appellation. Interestingly, Giant Water Bugs are eaten in Thailand.
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Posted 28 April 2009
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Bug or beetle
Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 7:18 PM
April 16, 2009 at 10:15 p.m. on our back porch. It was pulsating as we watched it. It was about three inches (3″) long.
Jill
Southeast of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Toe-Biter
Hi Jill,
We never tire of posting photos of Toe-Biters which are true bugs, not beetles.
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Posted 17 April 2009
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Toebiters for dinner?
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 1:01 PM
They had these at the local Asian market
Daniel
St. Petersburg, Florida
http://www.shirtsofbamboo.com/
Product of Thailand: Toe-Biters
Thanks for sending in the wonderful photo Daniel, but you neglected to tell us how many servings of this Thai delicacy you and Lisa had for dinner.
facinating instead of creepy bug
Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 3:25 AM
Hey Bugman,
today I was in my garden, enjoying the first spring sun. When I walked near our pond, I came across this creature of wich I send the photo’s. When I tried to grab it, he kept falling on his back..but got up immidiatly with his 2 long legs. Was pretty cool to see, after like the 5th time he fell on his back, he just flew away.. I’ve never seen a bug like this, but I hope you can help me identify it.
Greetingz Joël ps. excuse my bad English, I’m a Dutchguy.
Joël
The Netherlands Budel-Schoot, near water.
Water Boatman
Dear Joël the Dutchguy,
Your fascinating insect is a Water Boatman in the family Notonectidae The reason it was rather clumsy on land is that it is an aquatic insect that also flies quite well in the event its water habitat dries up or becomes otherwise unlivable. Water Boatman swim up-side-down, with their bellies up. The long oarlike legs propel them quickly through the water in a somewhat bobbing fashion. Water Boatman are predators with piercing/sucking mouthparts. You are lucky you were not bitten as the bite of a Water Boatman is quite painful, but otherwise harmless. You can read more about North American Water Boatmen on BugGuide.
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Posted 11 April 2009
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Large unidentified beetle
Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Please help me identify this insect. I was standing on my porch @ 8 oclock pm when I heard what I thought was a small bird fly past my head and land on my screen door.It is aprox. 2 inches long see attached picture.Sorry for the poor quality pics.Thank you
Insect Identification
Jackson ,NJ 08527
Toe-Biter
People often mistake the Toe-Biter for a beetle, but the Electric Light Bug or Giant Water Bug is actually an aquatic True Bug.
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Posted 03 April 2009
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Tarantula Eating Man Killer
Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 1:15 AM
I am currently serving in a mission for my church in Kisumu, Kenya. One night during the time just before the rainy season (March) my companion and I were playing Rook when we heard a knocking at the door. We came out to inspect, but saw no one. So this happened several times and we finally got curious enough to investigate. We thought maybe it was some kids, but we were wrong. We saw this little thing on our porch. I was about to kill it when my companion suggested we take some pictures. I went to get the Rook card for scale and when I bent down to put the card next to the bug, it flew right at my face. I dodged it, more surprised than scared, and it flew into the door (And it made the knocking sound we were hearing) and fell on its back. While it was still dazed I took the card, set it next to the bug and took the picture. I have been wondering what it was. I swear that this thing is the biggest bug in the world! Besides maybe a tarantula. But this thing feeds on them! Well I don’t know for sure, but I think it could.
Elder Collyer
Kisumu Kenya
Giant Water Bug
Dear Elder,
This is a Giant Water Bug in the family Belostomatidae. In the U.S. they are also known as Electric Light Bugs since they are attracted to lights, and Toe-Biters because of the painful bite. They are aquatic predators that do not eat tarantulas. They are adept at flying as well as swimming, but are clumsy on the ground. They are found around the world and are eaten in Thailand.
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Posted 25 March 2009
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flying bug, big eyes, scary face
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
i was outside, in michigan, today, st pattys day, saw what i thought was a bat… swooping under the streetlight. this bug flew to the ground, and i captured it. large back and wings, 6 legs, including 2 arm looking ones in the front. looks like a stinger in front of its face, below its mouth. 2 huge black eyes. very scary looking. please help. its still alive, captured.
included is a picture of it next to a pack of cigarettes so you can get an idea of the size.
thanks for helping!
davison, michigan
Toe-Biter
Though we have no shortage of Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter images on our site, your vivid description is a welcome addition to our archives. Thanks for the great letter.
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Posted 18 March 2009
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What kind of but is this?
Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 6:32 AM
I was in Puerto Maldonado, Peru recently and came across this giant insect. A friend of mine there, a local, said that it was a cockroach. Though it sort of looks like one, I’m not convinced.
nate
Peruvian Amazon, Puerto Maldonado
Giant Water Bug
Dear Nate,
People often write to us wanting to get buts identified. This is actually a Giant Water Bug in the family Belostomatidae. The family is well represented around the world. In the U.S . Giant Water Bugs are also known as Toe-Biters or Electric Light Bugs. They are eaten in Thailand.
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Posted 15 March 2009
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water scorpions share meal
Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Hi,
I thought you guys might like this picture I took last year. Over the summer I raised several water scorpions, and these are two of them. They were both eating the same damselfly larva at the same time. I thought that this was a rare moment and snapped several shots. I later realized that the darker one had little egg pouches, or mites of some kind on one of its legs, and that there is another damselfly larva on the lighter one’s back. I hope you guys enjoy this image. Thanks again for the awesome site.
Josh Kouri
Oklahoma
Water Scorpions eat Damselfly Naiad
Hi again Josh,
Thanks for the interesting image of two Water Scorpions feeding on a Damselfly Naiad. It will be an excellent addition to our Food Chain section. We took the liberty of adding Oklahoma to your posting as you did not submit your letter using our new form that requires a location. Adding the location requirement to our online form has saved us the bother of writing back for a location. Please include a location in any future letters.
What is this thing?
Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:26 AM
Found this bug by the open overhead door at the metal shop I was working in. It was September I believe. I kept it alive and scooped him up with a piece of paper and took it outside, however the owners son proceeded to smash it repeatedly with a 5 lb dead blow hammer, of course I was wroth with him for it. He smashes all the weird bugs that seem to show up in large numbers around the shop also. Found a luna moth that had been knocked down by a robin, and I saved a praying mantis that was over 4 inches long this fall! Don’t know what this thing is, had small hooks on the end of it’s strange mantis like front legs. Some damage to it in the picture, probably as a result of flying into the stockroom of a metal shop! if you could identify it, I would be grateful.
Matt
Western NY state, USA
Water Scorpion smashed to death
Hi Matt,
We are very sorry to hear that this unfortunate Water Scorpion has been pummelled to death by an insensitive insect hater. The Water Scorpion in the genus Ranatra is a predatory aquatic insect that can fly and is sometimes attracted to lights. Water Scorpions get their name from the painful bite they will deliver if they are mishandled, but the species does not aggressively bite humans.
Pre Historic Roach?
Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 6:31 PM
This bug was found by my father in the laundry. We don’t have trees and bushes, nor earth in our house, but my neighbor has. Hmm.. this is all i know =[
Hope you can tell us what's this bug! It really impressed us. Thanks
Reinaldo Hartmann
Brazil - Porto Velho - Ro
Giant Water Bug in Brazil
Hi Reinaldo,
This is actually a Giant Water Bug. In the U.S., they are commonly called Toe-Biters since they have been known to bite people who swim in lakes and ponds. They don’t aggressively bite humans, but they can deliver a very painful bite if carelessly handled. Giant Water Bugs can fly quite well, and they are attracted to lights, hence the other common name Electric Light Bug. Perhaps there was a light in the laundry room that attracted this specimen.
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Posted 24 November 2008
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WEIRD F%(#!N BUG THING!!! HELP!!!
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 12:22 AM
So like dude i was in the kitchen and all of a sudden this thing just comes crawling out from under the stove, i was scared man. It’s not exactly the kindest looking bugs. I don’t know anything more than that really, i swooped it up with a dustpan and let it wander outside.
tittysprinkles
My house in Tacoma Washington
Male Giant Water Bug with Eggs
Dear tittysprinkles,
Generally we refrain from editing the letters we receive, but as so many youngsters access our website, we felt compelled to “bleep out” your subject title. This is a male Giant Water Bug in either the genus Abedus or the genus Belostoma. When they mate, the female cements the eggs to the back of the male and he is the primary care giver for the unhatched brood. We are amazed that he was able to fly to your kitchen with that payload on board. Giant Water Bugs are aquatic, but they can fly quite well and they are attracted to electric lights. We suspect there is a body of water nearby that served as a mating habitat for your specimen.
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Posted 19 November 2008
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