Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter from Australia

Giant Bug in Rockhampton, Australia
December 30, 2009
Hi! I just found this picture in my photos from my Australia trip this year, and this bug I just can’t figure out. It can definitely survive in water ( we fished it out of the pool after a few hours and it flew away ), and it must have gotten in there by itself so it can probably swim as well. It has pretty huge claws and makes a lot of noise, and flies and runs pretty fast. I know that a lot of locals didn’t know what it was either, so maybe it’s new to the area or doesn’t come out every year. We saw it in April as far as I can remember, and it started out with just a few and then we started to see them all over. I attached a picture with an australian ten cent coin for size info. I’ve been trying to figure out what it is but I can’t find it anywhere, help would be really appreciated 🙂
Maja Schubert
Rockhampton, Australia

Giant Water Bug
Giant Water Bug

Hi Maja,
This is a Giant Water Bug.  In the U.S., they are commonly called Toe-Biters.

2 thoughts on “Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter from Australia”

  1. We found one of these in our parking lot in Minnesota… I guess this Aussie is on quite a walk about. I tried to post a picture but I am not able too.

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