Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus)This is a predatory insect that feeds on other insects, tadpoles, frogs, fish and salamanders. It uses its large clawed feet to capture prey, and then injects chemicals into their body to liquify the insides. It then uses its large beak to suck the liquid up. Ugh. Interesting, but definitely ughy.
Some species of Giant Water Bugs can grow up to four inches in length: this one was three inches long. Giant Water Bugs live up to one year, and will leave shallow ponds in the fall to look for deeper water in which to over-winter. This is when they are most often encountered.
View a really interesting close up photo of a water bug.
View Seabrooke Leckie's photos of another Giant Water Bug
7 comments:
I've been following your blog for a while now and I'm awed by your knowledge.
Would you mind telling a bit about your background - is this a hobby for you, or do you have training in natural history, etc.? And do you find these terrific creatures and plant specimens while you are out walking and then research them, or do you have a background knowledge of what you might find when you go to a certain location, search for that particular specimen and then post about it?
You inspire me to learn more, to get out more, to enjoy more. Thank you!
Hi Jennifer, Glad you are inspired, there are so many interesting things out there worth exploring. The web is a wonderful resource for learning about the things we find, but we also have a lot of books that we use as references.
ps I should add that it is both work and hobby, hard to draw the line sometimes...
Neat find! These are definitely pretty startling bugs. I encountered my first one this past spring and, not having any idea what it was, was initially somewhat alarmed. I wrote about it here. I've since encountered a second. Both of mine came to artificial light at night so I think it's neat you found yours in some vegetation during the day.
ooohhh, your photos are terrific! Yours looks like a different species, much wider body, etc. I'd hate to have it whirr by my head and get tangled in my head. Very ughy!
It looks like it could be an "earth mover" and rearrange those pebbles its crawling through.
It does, doesn't it?
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