Immature Giant Water Bug
(08/03/2006) WTB
I have posted pictures of this bug. Found in shallow water (and released) chasing another smaller bug. It bit me.



This is the first time we have gotten a photo of an immature Giant Water Bug, or Toe-Biter. Adults have wings and are strong fliers. There are human encounters when they are attracted to lights, hence their other common name, Electric Light Bug.

Ferocious Water Bug
(07/20/2006) Subacuatic E.T.
Hello Lisa and Daniel:
What is this???? It was near a fresh water stream in Santa Rosa Canyon, northeast from Ensenada. When I tried to take the second picture the bug jumped to the water and disappeared. This insect was flat, very wide, almost rounded shape, and about two inches from head to tail. And, are those eggs?
Thank you!
Antonio Carbajal R.



Hi Again Antonio,
We see from a later email you have already identified your Ferocious Water Bug, Abedus species. This western species is interesting in that the female cements her eggs to the back of the male. Here is a website that includes information on raising this insect in an aquarium.

Backswimmer
(07/17/2006) Back Swimmer Pictures
When I was looking for the scientific name of backswimmers, I saw that you had a shortage of pictures of these cuties. I just posted three pictures on my blog. If you want copies just drop me a line, or feel free to link to them if you want. I've been working on photographing underwater insects this past week. :)
http://macromath.blogspot.com/
Love your site!
Rachel



Hi Rachel,
We posted two of your Backswimmers, Family Notonectidae, and have linked to your site as well. Your photos are really great and a wonderful addition to our site.

Toebiter
(07/16/2006) Bite From Toe Biter
Hi bug man,
In our pool in Cleveland there are many toe-biters like 7 or 8 swimming around and nobody dares to remove them becouse we don't know wat they do if they bite. We do know it hurts like hell but does it suck blood from humans or inject any kind of liquid?
Thank you,
Tom



Hi Tom,
Giant Water Bugs, known as Toe-Biters, do not suck blood. They do not have poison, but they do inject anesthetic saliva to subdue their prey. A combination of the pointed beak and the saliva causes the pain.

Ferocious Water Bug and possibly Checkered Beetle
(07/15/2006) We're Stumped
Hi, Bug Man –
Last summer, we took a family vacation to Colorado. My daughter, a budding entomologist through 4-H, was excited about looking for any unusual insects that we don’t see in Indiana. Low and behold, we found just that. After getting them home in one piece, we are unable to identify either one. The first photo is some kind of water bug we found in a fountain in Boulder. We didn’t think it was a giant water bug nymph because the wings look developed. It’s about an inch an a quarter long. The second photo of the beetle has a story. We found this guy on top of our car after lunch in Colorado Springs. He went into a zip lock bag with another colorful beetle find. An hour later, we checked on our catch, only to find out that this beetle had eaten the other – so, we know it’s predaceous. The photo isn’t great, but the distinguishing features are the red abdomen with two symmetrical black spots. It’s about 5/8 of an inch long.
Thanks!
Becky



Hi Becky,
Your Water Bug is in the genus Belostoma, and they are sometimes called the Ferocious Water Bugs. The other photo is not detailed enough to be able to quickly identify it. We suspect it might be a species of Checkered Beetle in the family Cleridae, but not one we recognize. Eric Eaton provided this information: "The checkered beetle with the toe biter is indeed a checkered beetle, family Cleridae. Many kinds of checkered beetles are valuable predators of bark beetles."

Toe-Biter
(06/22/2006) Giant water bug
This little dude (or dudette) scared the stuffing out of me! It was in out pool near Waco TX. Enjoy!
J Clark



Hi J,
Thanks for sending in a great image of a Giant Water Bug, aka Toe-Biter or Electric Light Bug. Lethocerus americanus has earned all its common names.

Water Scorpions
(06/13/2006) water scorpion?
I found what I thought was a dead walking stick in my pond in Myakka City, Florida. Surprise it was alive and there were two of them. Are these water scorpions? Do they really bite? They didn't seem very aggresive when I touched their front legs.
Lis



Hi Lis,
These surely are Water Scorpions in the genus Ranatra, and they really will give a painful bite. Your photo is totally awesome.

South American Toe-Biter
(05/19/2006) Toe-Biter04/24/2006
AMIGOS : desde sud America les escribo para felicitarlos por su pagina y la tarea de divulgacion y formacion que realizan, aprovecho para enviar foto adjunta con nombre de hemiptero que les mando Toe Biter con el genero y especie es acuatica y aqui se las llama chinche gigante de agua saludos
Dr Carlos Marzano



Hola Dr Carlos Marzano,
Muchas gracias para su photo excellente de Belostoma cummingsi, un Hemiptero aquatico de Sudamerica.

Translation
Friends: I am writing from South America to congratulate you on your page and the task and effort you do. I'm taking the time to send you the enclosed photo of a Hemipteran (Toe-Biter) with genus and species that here we call the Gigantic Water Bed Bug.
health,
Dr. Carlos Marzano

Waterscorpion
(04/26/2006) Strange household insect
I've been trying very hard to find a classification for it on google to no avail...the insect is very small, approximately 2 to 3 centimeters, and resembles a small version of the the toe-biter/giant water bug, except its body is almost completely flat. It has two large front legs that resemble pincers but are used for locomotion. It has a dull, dead-leaflike color and texture, and a very small, hairlike protrusion coming out the back. Any thoughts on what this might be? A few pictures are attached.
Rev. Alexander



Hi Reverand,
You have made us so very happy with your photo. This is a first for our site. This is a Waterscorpion, Nepa apiculata. There are two different genuses of Water Scorpions in North America, and we have received photos of the other, Ranatra, in the past. Waterscorpions are related to Giant Water Bugs known as Toe-Biters. Waterscorpions and Toe-Biters are both aquatic, but both also fly and are attracted to lights. The hairlike protrusion is a type of snorkle for breathing while submerged.

Toe-Biter
(04/24/2006) Toe Biter
Found this bug a couple of days ago when taking a rescue dog out to potty. She saw it and when she tried to sniff it, It took a hit at her nose. Fortunately she has good reflexes and avoided a bite. The picture shows the bug (inside a jar) on a rotary mat, each square constitutes one square inch. I figured this would give good scale on the size of this big beast. My kids wouldnt even let the bug sleep in the house and everyone was hung up on, "what the heck is it?" After i figured it out, I made a printout of the info on it and considering its the largest true bug in the continental united states, figured it would be a good one for my 11 year old son to take with him to school. Unfortunately it proved to be too much stress on the bug and she died while at school. Thought the clarity of the picture made this one worth sending in.
Sincerely,
May Cross
Alanson MI
Ps. The kids at school named the bug Mr. Snickers.



Hi May,
Sorry to hear of Mr. Snickers demise, but any child will tell you that school can be a very stressful place. Do you quilt?

Giant Water Bug
(04/13/2006) found in our garage
My husband and his brother were working in our garage when they found this bug....thanks to your web site I was able to identify it. It scared them both! We live in Rochester, NY.
Traci and Jim



Hi Traci and Jim,
You had the photo labled Water Scorpion when this is in fact a close relative the Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus. It is also commonly called a Toe-Biter.

Electric Light Bug
(04/12/2006) big bug
Hello,
My name is Chad, and i found this bug in Midland, Michigan last night. It was in a Walmart Parking lot. within 300 feet of a bunch of pallets of top soil, mulch, roses, etc. I am guessing it is not from this area, and was brought in with the pallets of mulch. can you help me identify it?
Thanks
Chad



Hi Chad,
This is a Giant Water Bug, also known as an Electric Light Bug or Toe-Biter. Lethocerus americanus is capable of delivering a nasty bite if mishandled. It was probably attracted to the parking lot lights.

thanks, you have a great site. after looking for a while i came across some pictures of it on your site. I have already released it at the edge of the pond outside, it went straight for the water. seemed content there. later
Chad

Giant Water Bug
April Fool's Day (04/01/2006) toe biter
Thanks to your site I was able to identify this bug as a toe biter. I've lived in northeastern CT for nearly 40 years and have never seen one of these big guys before. My kids were afraid to go to bed! LOL Thanks!
Rob



Hi Rob,
Thanks for your photos. We hope you don't use this Toe-Biter as an April Fool's joke today.

Giant Water Bug
(03/31/2006) The big guy
This insect is about 2 1/4 inches long from nose to tail I have never seen anything like it in my life. I hope you have.
thanks
Brad



Hi Brad,
This is a Giant Water Bug also known as a Toe-Biter. Where was this specimen captured?

Toe-Biter
(03/30/2006) Big Bug in Pennsylvania
This big bug (about 2.5 in ) was in our garage in Western Pennsylvania. We found it in the evening on March 30th after a warm day. We looked at several websites to identify it but couldn't match it exactly. It looks like the body of a roach but the upper part seems to have pinchers more like a boring beetle. Please help if you can.
Thanks
Travis



Hi Travis,
What a great photo of a Toe-Biter, or Giant Water Bug. They are aquatic, but also fly. They are attracted to lights and are sometimes called Electric Light Bugs, which could explain how it was drawn to your garage.

Iraqi Toe-Biter
(03/20/2006) Giant IRAQI Water Bug?
I looked at your site and noticed a lot of photos of "toe-biters", or "giant water bugs." I noticed a lot were Canadian. I'm in Balad, Iraq, and noticed the photographed/attached bug here during our rainy season, and it looks identical. Is it possible that this bug lives over here as well? It was VERY aggressive, and waddled when it walked.
Hans in Iraq



Hi Hans,
Thanks for sending in your image of an Iraqi Toe-Biter. There are species in most parts of the temperate and tropical world. In Southeast Asia where they grow to five inches long, they are a deep fried delicacy. Don't get your finger too close as they do not distinguish between fingers and toes.

Haitian Toe-Biter
(01/31/2006) what is this bug i found in the mountains of Haiti
Hello,
I found this bug in our garage. I live in port-au-prince, haiti at about 3000 feet above sea level.
Thanks,
Joel Trimble



Hi Joel,
This is a Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter. They are aquatic insects that can also fly. While flying they are attracted to electric lights, owing to another common name, Electric Light Bug. Perhaps the garage light attracted it.

Australian Toe-Biter
(01/23/2006)
Could you please identify the attached photo of a bug we found in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia. The bug was six cm long, from the top of it's nose to the tip of it's tail, not including the other bits that stick out.
Thanks for your help bugman



This is a Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter or Electric Light Bug. They are aquatic and also fly.

Madagascar Toe Biter
(01/18/2006) Whats That Bug?
Hello Whats That Bug?
I had another encounter with a nightactive "i will kill myself in the lamp" oversized bug. I found it in a hotel on the beach of Nosy Be as well as in the central highlands of Madagascar.
Thank you,
Kati



Hi Kati,
This is a Giant Water Bug, known stateside as Toe Biters for a really good reason.

Water Scorpions Mating
(11/08/2005) Toe Biters??
Hi there,
I live in Sydney Australia and found your website when trying to identify these bugs, found in our backyard swimming pool. I think they might be what you call Toe-biters or Giant Water Bugs, but these ones have longer front appendages and long spikes at the back, at least the length of their abdomen. There is one smaller one on the back of  the larger one and does not get off. Are they mating or is the little one eating the big one? Please help, my girls are too scared to go back in the pool!!!!
Janine in Oz



Hi Janine,
My Oh My we are thrilled to have received your excellent photo. We haven't posted anything on our Bug Love page in weeks. These are actually Water Scorpions, relatives of Toe Biters that can also deliver a painful bite. They are mating. Tell your girls not to fear the water. The Water Scorpions are probably not established in your pool unless the water is stagnant. The appendages are actually breathing aparati, similar to snorkles.

Toe Biter in Pool
(11/07/2005) Giant water bug attack in my pool
Hey Bugman,
I know you received plenty of these photos, but the stories on your site are great. This bug was in my swimming pool in Austin, TX. I was swimming laps and was taking a breather when this thing came at me. I tried to splash it away while backing up and it just kept coming. It chased me out of the pool! I must admit, he is the ugliest, scariest bug I've ever seen.
Doug in Austin



Hi Doug,
We do try to post the most interesting stories and yours is pretty great. Thanks for the anecdote.

Giant Water Bug
(10/27/2005) Toebiter!!!
Hi:
I’m really glad I found your site. I’m writing to tell you we found this bug on our sliding door one Saturday night. We live in Sunderland, Ontario. We have 2 man made ponds and all the goldfish died this year. We can’t figure out why. Could this bug have killed all our fish? Thanks for any help you can give us!!!
Colleen Cassidy



Hi Colleen,
Toebiters will not be able to kill large koi, but small goldfish are easy game.

Toe-Biter
(10/20/2005)
Me and a friend found this bug flying at us like a bullet. we were in some foot ball stands practicing for a band contest and it came at us.its missing a leg because of the scream of ohh my god don't bite me then the 26' drop to the ground. I now have it in a huge aquarium with a dead grasshopper he killed when we put it in there, and there's a wasp at the top of the thing that the bug circles around. do you know what he eats because I would like to keep him as a pet. I live in Electra TX.
ps.his name is George



Add some water to George's aquarium and he will really be happy. George is a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, an aquatic predator that also flies quite well. George will suck the blood from anything, practically. In their natural habitat, shallow freshwater ponds and pools, Giant Water Bugs will feed on other insects and aquatic invertebrates as well as tadpoles, salamanders and small fish. He will eat feeder goldfish in captivity. Giant Water Bugs also go by the colorful common names of Electric Light Bugs since they are attracted to lights, probably the reason you found George in the stadium. An even more common name is Toe-Biter which needs no explanation. Any swimmer who has ever encountered a Toe-Biter while swimming in a pond will surely agree that the name is appropriate. The bite is very painful.

Toe Biter
(10/15/2005) I got a water scorpion pic for you
Hi,
My name Is Maranda and a few nights ago I was at work and someone brought to my attention that there was a huge bug on the wall outside our building. I had never seen anything like it so I captured it. I took some pics of it but could not find out what it was, finally after lots of searching online I found out it was a water scorpion. I came across this site and saw that you liked pics of them so I thought i'd send you mine. I also have a question though, are they common to find in michigan? I read they were from Germany. And also I stilll have him captive, what should I do with him?
p.s. I read that they use thier tails for snorkeling in water, but his is broken off, is this a problem for him?
Maranda



Hi Maranda,
This isn't a Water Scorpion, but another aquatic Hemipteran, the Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter. They are common in Michigan.

Water Strider
(10/15/2005) What is this?
Daniel,
Thanks for the assassin bug reply, that was fast! Could you also identify these insects? Your site is terrific!
Merry & Brett



Hi Merry and Brett,
The Water Strider, Family Gerridae, is a True Bug. They dart about on the surface film of water feeding on small animals that fall into the water or float up from below. Some are wingless and others capable of flight. They are called Skaters in Canada and Jesus Bugs in Texas because they walk on water.

Toe Biter
(09/17/2005) What's this bug???
Hello..
I am a pilot with Canadian Helicopters in Moosonee, Ontario, on the coast of James Bay.  This is a beetle/bug/creature that regularly visits us here..it is quite menacing-looking.  Do you know what it is?  Does it bite? Enquiring minds want to know :) Thanks
Walter Heneghan
Moosonee, Ontario, Canada



Hi Walter,
Luckily you didn't use your foot for scale or the Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter, may have taken a chomp. These aquatic True Bugs also fly very well.

Giant Water Bug
(09/17/2005) What's this bug called?
Hi;
This huge bug literally fell from the sky, bounced off my car and landed at my feet.  I never saw it fly so I am guessing it was dropped by a bird - lunch lost!  It is a bit longer than 2" and was trying to quickly scurry away.  I took a few pics when it calmed down after a few minutes.  I was in the village of Madoc, Ontario, Canada in early September when I took the pictures.  Could you please tell me what this monster may be?
Best regards,
Jeff Scott



Hi Jeff,
This is a Giant Water Bug also known as a Toe-Biter. They are the largest True Bugs in North America and can deliver a painful bite. They can fly as well as they can swim to to their aerodynamic build, and it probably did just attempt a sloppy landing as they are very clumsy on dry land.

Electric Light Bug
(09/10/2005) another bug question
Hi again:
A friend just sent me a photo of a bug that showed up on the screen door at his cottage on Kahshe Lake in southern Ontario this weekend. He says it was almost as long as his hand. I can't find a photo of it on the web and am hoping you can help us to identify it.
Thanks again
Wendy Moore



Hi Wendy,
I needed to open your email right away as we have a friend from way back with the same name. This is a Giant Water Bug or Toe-Biter, or Electric Light Bug. They get that last name from the fact that they are attracted to lights at night, probably the reason it was on your friend's door. Watch out, they bite. They are excellent swimmers and very adept at flying despite their clumsy movements on land. Regarding your caterpillar question, we will probably wait the two years before your mom develops the film.

Toe-Biter
(08/16/2005) giant water bug
I thought you might want a couple pictures of another Giant Water Bug.  It was flying around my friends back porch.  He has a very wet conservation area behind his house.   We were able to identify it on your site.  Luckily (as we now see) nobody got bitten. Thanks for the great info. 
Thanks,
Ken



Hi Ken,
We always love getting great new photos of Toe-Biters. Giant Water Bugs, House Centipedes, Hummingbird Moths, Potato Bugs and Dobsonflies always attract attention and the curious must know what they are. That is why we are here.

Ferocious Water Bug
(08/04/2005) what is this bug/water beetle. I found it in Arizona in the Pinetop-Lakeside area.
Thanks,
glen b



Hi Glen,
This image is a first for our archive. This is a male Ferocious Water Bug, Abedus species. They are found in Mexico, California and Arizona. The female cements the eggs to the males back, just like in your photo. They are ferocious predators.

07/31/2005) Please Tell me what this is
We found this in our back yard.  It looks like it has some roach anatomy but it seems to have huge arms coming out of it just beneth it's head.  We have been looking online but can't seem to find anything that looks similar to it.  We live in Florida near the Panhandle.  Thanks
Ryan, Jen, and Jared
"The Florida Nappers"
Navarre Florida



Hi Ryan,
Nice Toe-Biter images. This is a Giant Water Bug which can bite painfully. They are also known as Electric Light Bugs.

Water Scorpion
(07/28/2005) I don't know if the picture is okay...
This was taken in a museum for Lightening Bugs. I thought it was kind of scary looking, and after browsing your wonderful site, I guess it is a "water scorpion" in English? Sounds scary in English, too. Thought you might like a picture that didn't look like a walking stick.



Thank you so much. Your photo is pretty great.

Backswimmer
(07/20/2005) Pool Bug (good backstroke) Central Kentucky Area
Great site!  Thanks...if this *critter* is amongst your pages, I've missed it.  Found in swimming pool, and can range in size from 1/4 in to almost 1/2 in in length.  Incredible swimmers, with legs that propel in water very quickly.  Don't think it comes up for air, but could be wrong....can stay submerged for long periods.  Very awkward out of water...seems to "flip" around trying to make it's way back.  I'm guessing it's an immature common insect, but don't have a clue. Any help in identification would be appreciated
Terry L



Hi Terry,
The reason you couldn't locate your Backswimmer, Notonecta species, on our site is because it is a first for us. We actually had to make a decision where to put it. We decided the Toe-Biter page was the most appropriate location, and we will expand the scope of the page. Backswimmers are True Bugs and they are torpedo shaped and aquatic, but fly. They propel themselves through the water up-side-down in a jerky erratic manner using the extended and hair-fringed hind legs as oars. Air trapped in abdominal pockets enables them to remain submerged for six hours of inactivity if necessary. Their wings and backs are pale and the undersides are dark which acts as protective coloration while swimming. They are excellent hunters that prey upon insects that get caught in the water, aquatic insects and tadpoles. They have piercing mouthparts and can bite. Thank you ever so much for adding something new to our database.

Toe-Biter
(07/19/2005) Big Icky Bug
Hey Bugman,
I am a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University here in West Palm Beach, Florida . One night not too long ago I was walking a young lady home and came across this monster looking beetle. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. After I convinced the young lady to stop screaming and even get a closer look, I snapped this picture with my phone. I’m sorry that the quality is not all that good. I tried to buff it up a little as far as the lighting goes but I didn’t want to alter the photo too much. Could you please tell me what in the world this beast is? I have asked several native Floridians and no one seems to know.
Yours truly,
Fred G. Krauer, Jr.



Hi Fred,
This is the infamous Toe-Biter, the Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, which is also known as the Electric Light Bug because it is attracted to lights. The common name Toe-Biter needs no explanation for anyone who has been bitten while swimming in a lake. The bite is very painful. These bugs are aquatic, but equally well adapted to flight. On land they are rather clumsy.

Giant Water Bug
(06/09/2005) A HUGE bug I found!
Hi my name is Tyler Berliner and I live in Richmond, Vermont.  I was outside playing in my backyard and my dad looked on the ground and saw this huge bug.  I brought it to school to see what it was.  In the library, I found out it might be an Eastern Toe Biter. Can you tell me if I'm right and can you tell me more about this bug and why it might be near my house.  Are they dangerous?  Do they really bites your toe?
Thank you,
Tyler Berliner



Hi Tyler,
You are absolutely correct. The Giant Water Bug also goes by the name Electric Light Bug, which could explain why it was in your yard. It may have been attracted to the lights at night. These bugs are great fliers as well as swimmers. They get the name Toe-Biter because they have bitten so many people while swimming. The bite is painful, but they are not dangerous.

Giant Water Bug
(06/03/2005) Another Toe Biter.
Hello. I live in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada and ran across this huge bug at our factory. It was a great mystery to everyone, but I was sure I'd find some answers here. I love your site.



Thanks for the compliment William. The graph paper is a nice addition to your photo.

Giant Water Bug
(05/15/2005) Not sure what knid of bug this is?
Mr. Bugman,
Here is a picture of a bug we found outdoors in Florida.  It was approximately 2 1/2 inches long with pinchers near the top of it's head.  It attacked my husband's shoe when he got near it.  Do you know what is is called?
Rene V.



Hi Rene
We always like to have a photo of a Toe-Biter on our homepage, and had you scrolled down, you would have seen it. Toe-Biter and Electric Light Bug are both common names for the Giant Water Bug. They bite and it hurts.

Giant Water Bug
(05/08/2005) i think its a giant water bug
I found this but at my cottage on Georgian Bay , I think that it is a Giant Water bug, it has 4 legs, 2 “pincers” at the front, and looks like it has “fangs”. It was pretty large, and hopefully you can identify it from the pictures. Can you send me some information about this bug please?
Thanks!
Brett



Hi Brett,
You are correct. This is a Giant Water Bug also known as a Toe-Biter. You can find many photos and much information on our Toebiter page by clicking the link in the alphabatized list on the left side of the www.whatsthatbug.com homepage.

Giant Water Bug
(04/07/2005) Beetle???
My dog found this in our front porch area, in central Oregon.  It was in the rocks, near a deck.  I have no idea what it is....can you help??
Thanks, No Bugs Allowed



Dear Barbers,
You don't have a beetle, but a Giant Water Bug, also know as a Toe-Biter or Electric Light Bug. They can bite painfully, are the largest North American True Bug, and are equally at home in the air or in the water, but they are clumsy on the land.

Water Scorpion
(01/24/2005) Good morning!
Hi there.  This fellow was extricated from underwater brush in a lake nearby which is mostly frozen over though thawed in places.  At first I believed he was a "Walking Stick."  However, the legs seemed wrong.  Scanning internet images led me to now believe he may be a Water Scorpion.  (And to think I kept repositioning him, which he seemed to tolerate cheerfully enough!)  I'd really like your confirmation, please!  Thanks for your tremendous site!
Sincerely,
Michelle Mahood
Shingletown, California



Hi Michelle,
We always enjoy getting interesting images from you. Yours is the first photograph we have gotten of a Water Scorpion, though we have gotten several letters. Your specimen looks like a Western Water Scorpion, Ranatra brevicollis. They get to be about 1 inch long with an additional inch of breathing tubes. They are found in shallow ponds amid debris. They will bite painfully if provoked.

Smelly Corpse of a Toe-Biter
(01/08/2005) Toe Biter
HI. I found one of these Water Scorpions dead in my living room and did not know what it was until I found your site. After I found it, I put it in a box with a lid, and the next day when we opened it, it smelled like a dead corpse. Can you tell me why?
Gina



Hi Gina,
Your dead Toe-Biter began to smell like a corpse because it is a corpse. Insect collectors preserve most specimens by letting them dry out. If you placed the still fresh specimen in an enclosed space, it could not dry and began to decay, hence the smell. Your specimen appears to be a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, and not one of the Nepa Water Scorpions which rarely fly. We are getting a second opinion on the very long breathing tube your photo illustrates, and are unsure if this is an individual anomoly. Your image is beautiful.

Giant Water Bug
(01/06/2005) eeeewww!
Hello, My name is Tara and I have a large bug I need identified.  It is about two inches long and an inch across.  I can see that it has wings under its outer shell.  It only has four legs but has two more things on its head and I didn't know if they were legs or not.  Thank you for your time in looking at my bug and I love your site it is really helpful.
Tara J.



Hi Tara,
Many people react with an "Eeeeewwww" when encountering a Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter. They will bite more than just toes, though. Glad you were unscathed.

Toe Biter
(11/11/2004) big roach?
Hi Folks,
Found this bug near the local rec centre, assuming its a roach, just wanted verification on that, any idea of the species?
Thanks,
Andrew



Hi Andrew,
We just love getting new photos of Giant Water Bugs, also known as Toe-Biters (a well deserved name) as well as Electric Light Bugs because they are often attracted to lights at night, often in great numbers. This is the largest true bug in the continental U.S. and it is equally at home in water or air, though it is somewhat clumsy on the ground.

Giant Water Bug
(10/15/2004) Beetle (?) found in Houston, Texas
Dear Bugman,
My 7 year old son found this monster on the patio last night.  My husband and I have never seen anything like it, and we're both native Houstonians.  I've been through your site, but don't see any other beetles that look like this one.  Can you identify it?
The bug is enjoying his first day of 1st grade right now - my son took him for Show and Tell.  My son's teacher will take good care of him.
Thanks so much!
The Nance Family



Hi Nance Family,
Sorry for the delay. You have a Giant Water Bug, also known as an Electric Light Bug or the well deserved common name of Toe-Biter. They will bite and painfully.

Giant Water Bug
(08/10/2004) Mystery Bug in Northern Vermont
This bug appeared on the porch screen of our cottage in Westmore, Vermont (Bald Hill Pond area) elevation ~1900 ft in July, 2003 any ideas what it is? It also has wings since it flew.
Allan MacDonald



Hi Allen
You have a Giant Water Bug or Electric Light Bug, also known as a Toe-Biter. They rightly earned all of their common names, and they can deliver a nasty bite.

Toe-Biter
(08/02/2004) whats this bug?
Hi there, great idea for a site... Glad I found it because I'm curious what this bug is. Earlier in the year I was outside a coffee shop talking to some friends here in South-Eastern Ontario, and I heard some wierd buzzing behind me. I looked to see what it was, and sitting in the middle of the parking lot was this...uhm....thing (see attached photos). It was huge, I don't think I've seen an insect this big in my life (outside of a zoo anyways). It was about 3 inches long, and an inch or so wide. I placed a coffee cup beside it for size reference (2nd photo). It tried several times to fly away, but it was injured and only made it a few feet. If you could identify it, I'd like to know more. Is it native to this area?
Thanks!
Brian Graves



Hi Brian,
We always love getting new photos of Giant Water Bugs, also known, deservedly, as Toe-Biters. They range across the North American Continent, and have relatives worldwide. A Thai species is about twice the size. Toe-Biters are the largest American True Bugs, and are larger than our largest Beetles. They are equally at home in the air or water. Yours is a Lethocerus species.

Well geez, its a pretty common thing then... I've just never seen one before, at least if I have it wasn't anywhere near this big. Thanks for the info and the quick reply and keep up the work with the great website!

Toe-Biter and Giant Ichneumon
(07/02/2004) 2 bugs
The first i assume is a "toe bitter" i have lived in maien my whole life and never seen a bug that big.... heres some photos for you(there were taken on my palm pilot so there not the best)



the second bug i have only seen twice in my life, when i was 6 and noone belived me and jsut a week ago, no photos it however it body is aprox 1 inch from head to tail, look like a hornet, black in color, however it has a 5inch long "stinger" i cant find anythign about it. please help, its like a black hornet with a 5 inch tail. Thanks
Drop me a line when you figure that one out, now that i have foudn yrou website im gonna keep my camera handy for odd lookign bugs :-) THANKS for a wonderful service
tim

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the Toe-Biter photo. I know what your second bug is. Here is a photo of a Giant Ichneumon sent in last year. These are wasps, but that five inch long stinger is actually an ovipositor. The female lays her eggs deep inside of a tree trunk and her young are predatory on boring insects, especially sawflies and beetle grubs.

Toe-Biter
(05/12/2004) Heat Bug? Strange and Irritating Bug
Hi!  I just moved to a region, where in summertime, the air is infiltrated by an extremely loud, buzzing, almost electrical sound.  I've been told it is called the Heat Bug, as it only comes out in the summer and creates its din on very warm days.  I have included  photos of what the locals claim to be the insect responsible for this racket!
Hope you can identify it!
Jordan



Dear Jordan,
Your awesome photos are of a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, which also goes by the colorful names Electric Light Bug and Toe-Biter. These are aquatic insects which can also fly, and they can deliver a painful bite. They are also the largest True Bugs in North America. They do not make loud noises. I have never heard the name Heat Bug, but I am guessing by your description, that they are probably cicadas. Cicadas make a noise similar to that which you describe. Additionally, this year marks the return of Brood X of the Periodical Cicada or 17 Year Locust which will be appearing in great numbers and making quite a bit of racket. Sadly, Jordan, your letter was one of the last to get through before heavy traffic shut us down, or I would direct you to our cicada page to see photos of what I am guessing are your Heat Bugs. Our site will return in June. (05/03/2004)

Daniel,
Thank you for such a timely and informative reply! To imagine that I got siting of one of the Biggest Bugs in N.America!  Unfortunately, this letter may not reach you until later, however, I do hope to return to your e-page soon.  Thanks again and good luck with Brood X Studies.
Jordan.

Toe Biter
(04/06/2004) What the hell is this?
My wife and dog (100lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever) fought this thing off. She actually captured this thing and we are wondering what this thing is. I've lived in MN all my life (29 years) and I have never seen anything close to this.



Dear Roger,
Your wife and dog encountered a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, which also goes by the colorful and accurate names of Toe Biter and Electric Light Bug. They are the largest true bugs in the U.S. and are aquatic, but are very adept in flight as well. They are often attracted to lights at night, and are occasionally found in enormous numbers. They bite readily. Thanks for the great photo.

Water Scorpion? (11/4/2003)
My son suffered a sting from strange looking think. He said it stung for a while afterwards. He had just came in from outside at night with his dad when this happened. It left a red dot and it did whelp up however the whelp did go away but the red dot or puncture site remained. It almost looked like a miniature walking stick with a long whip protruding from its head. It was green with six legs which appeared to have barbs on them and the head either had red eyes or a read dot on it. The front legs had tiny pinchers on them as well. We live in south Arkansas and I have not seen anything like this before. What do you think it may be?
Thanks
Rhonda


Hi Rhonda,
It sounds like your son might have been biten by a Water Scorpion, genus Ranatra. They are insects, not scorpions. They are aquatic, but adults occasionally fly at night. They are True Bugs and can deliver a painful bite. Swimmers call them, along with the closely related Giant Water Bug, "Toe- Biters" , a name they deservedly earned. The bite is painful, and a mild venom was responsible for the welt. Here is a drawing I found online.

Thanks for your help...You are correct and he is fine.  He took the creature to his school and the class helped I. D. the thing.
Thanks again,
Rhonda

Possibly another Water Scorpion
(11/3/2003) Hi Bug man
We found a nasty looking bug at my moms house. It was mating on her threshold! I haven never seen a bug like it before. It was HUGE!!! It looked like a cross between a spider and a beetle. It had 6 legs it was grey and black, I think, and my husband says he thinks it had wings. The legs are long and it was grasping the underside of the table out on the porch (we found another) can you help us figure out what the heck this thing is? I am totaly freaked out.
Melissa

"BIG BUG"
(8/13/2003) Hey Bugman!  
My husband found a giant brown bug on our screen door.  He was so impressed with it , that he brought it inside to show me and our daughter.  It was 2 1/2-3 inches long.  It was brown and looked like a large leaf-on it's back and belly.  It had 6 legs.  The front legs almost looked like pinchers.  We live in the bottom of the pan handle in Idaho.  I'm from Kentucky and used to seeing big bugs-but this one blows my mind.  Haven't been able to find it on the internet-you're my last chance.  Help!  Need to Know In Idaho

Dear Need to Know in Idaho,
That should be your state motto.  I'm guessing a Giant Water Bug, also known as a Toe Biter or Electric Light Bug.  We will soon be featuring it in a special Bug Biography section due to be posted in the next few days.

(7/26/2003)
Hi, this is Jay again on my home address..  I was
asking you about the bug that looks like the Water scorpion but not quite..  well, since I saw it I kept
my digital camera in my car in case I came across it again, well the other night I saw his little brother I
think.. that looked like a smaller version of the big
guy I saw.. I found him on his back kicking his legs and snapped this picture..  Looks like a water scorpion without the breathing tube?   I can't say for sure this is what I saw the other night.. it's similar in shape.. This guy was about 2.5 inches in length.. the other one was literally 5 inches.  So tell me what you think...
Jay

Thanks Jay,
It is a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus, and we have been getting numerous reports about them, especially the south, more specifically Florida.  They will bite painfully, and swimmers call them "toe Biters."

(07/21/03)Hi bug man!
My name is Stephanie, and I live in a suburban neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama. I have a question about a bug that I have noticed sitting at my front door every night for the past week. It only comes out at night, and boy is it hideous looking. For starters, this thing is huge. It appears to be black on its back, yet when turned over, seems to have a lighter-colored abdomen. Also, to make it even uglier, it has two long siphon-like extensions that come out of its (i guess) "head," and these appear to be a color similar to its (?) abdomen. I have not yet been able to approach it, for I have a fear of strange insects (and some not-so-strange ones!)...so my details are few. It apparently likes our porch light, for, as I've said, it only comes out at night. A few nights ago, my fiance drove me home so he could take a look at it. He attempted to kill it, spraying it with Raid. It got very upset and flew all around my front porch, banging into the door and anything in its path. (sidenote: when it hit the door, it made a very "hard" sound, as if it were a rock) After about 5 minutes, it stopped flying around and landed by our front door mat, appearing to be dead. Wanting to investigate exactly what this strange bug was, I told my fiance not to pick it up and said that I would take a look at it the next day, when it would be light outside. So, the next day, I went down....and no bug. I assumed that possibly another animal of some sort had taken it and had it for supper, and that was that. Yet, tonight, again, as I returned home at around 1am, it was back in the EXACT same place that it had been the past 5 nights. I am so terrified of it, that I will not enter my parents' house through the front door as long as this thing is there, guarding the door....so I go around to the back (where it's dark) and enter there! If you could, please, please, please, tell me any information that you might have regarding what the heck this nasty-looking thing is. Thanks a bunch,
Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
You have written such an amazing letter, I only hope I can help you. The siphon, as well the habit of being attracted to lights leads me to think it might be a Giant Water Bug, Lethocerus americanus. We have been getting several letters about them, especially from the South. They have a common name, "Toe Biters" due to their habit of biting the toes of swimmers. They are aquatic, and equally at home in the air or water. Here is a photo:

(7/18/2003)Hello,
My wife is a native to Florida and has in the last few years noticed a bug/beetle that she has never seen before.  It always seems to hang around the same small bushes that one of our local restaurants have and the only other place she has seen it is at work where they have the same type of bush.
It is completely black, around two and a half inches in length, about half an inch wide and has large pinches on the front of it's head and it also flies.
We would both appreciate it very much if you could tell us what this bug is as, we have looked on many websites and have never found it listed.
Thanks in advance,
Robert & Laura Kitchener

Dear Robert and Laura,
It sounds like a stag beetle. We have been getting reports and sitings lately.

Thanks but that is not it.  The bug I mean doesn't have such a hard shell and has similar dimensions of a palmetto bug, but larger, with claws and a bit different in color.  We are going to try to get a picture of one for ya (If we can stand around it that long, ha, ha)?  Thanks for all your help!

Please send that photo. Meanwhile, I'm guessing a Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus). The Giant Water Bug is a true bug, a member of the order Heteroptera. They have sucking mouthparts. At nearly three inches in length, they are among the largest insects in the continental United States. The mature insects are strong fliers and because of their streamlined, keel shaped bodies, are equally comfortable in the air or in water. The adults have a variety of common names including Toe Biters and Electric Light Bugs. Any swimmer who has ever been bitten would attest to the origin of the name Toe Biter, since the bite is extremely painful. The Giant Water Bug is a ferocious hunter which uses its front claws to grasp its prey which can include small fish as well as tadpoles and water insects. Huge swarms appear periodically in brightly lit parking lots in the South. An even larger relative in South East Asia reaches five inches in length and is prized as a delicacy in Thailand. A recent news story covers a veritable invasion of Giant Water Bugs in New Port Richie, Florida that terrified the local population. Here is an image.

Thanks for the info I think that is the right bug.  At first glance of the water bug out of the water, the 'claws' didn't seem to stand out.  Everytime I have seen this bug, it looked as if it had 'claws' so I wasn't sure until I saw the PIC attached.  This looks like the bug on land as well as in water.  Thanks for finally settling our minds and we wont be touching one anytime soon !!!

Another photo just for fun.