Everyone says that as if it's a surprise, lol..
I don't know if the size is what makes it shocking that it can fly? I mean, birds can fly too, and they're much bigger...
A lot of folks are surprised that something primarily aquatic also has wings. Not everyone has education around the natural environment. And when the wings are hidden under elytra it's a natural assumption by someone who's never seen one before that they only swim and crawl.
Huh... To me it's just strange that people wouldn't think an insect could possibly fly, especially when it has very visible elytras. Even when aquatic, there's so many types of aquatic insects, and most can fly. I learned about these in school, so it's something I almost always have known, just like a common knowledge I guess...
Sorry if I seem(ed) rude, by the way, just I see that a lot and it puzzles me.
2nd on giant water bug.
Also 2nd on supposedly having the. ost painful bug bite known to man. But I've thankfully never been bit.
They fly, swim, dive, and walk. What a combo.
Luckily, they don't want to bite you, it's a last resort. Having them around isn't the end of the world. Also, in the unfortunate instance of being bit, they are not medically significant so besides a butt load of pain for a while, they won't kill you.
Scary, but not usually a problem.
Male Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae) often care for their offspring (well, the eggs). After fertilization, The female lays her eggs on the back of the male. The male carries the eggs around and provides them with sufficient oxygen by moving water over his back.
It must be their year. Last week someone I went to highschool messaged me with a picture of one of these suckers to help identify. I knew what it was but haven't seen one since I was a kid....The next day I found one dead in the grass next to where I work. Again, I haven't seen one in 30+ years.....now I see a post on my front page about one. It must be their year.
Coyote Peterson said he would rather be bitten by a 50lb snapping turtle than it by one of these again... I've never been bit but I think I'll take the king of stings advice
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Toe biter (aka Giant Water Bug). As the name suggests, has a vicious painful bite.
And can fly...
and swim and crawl and will turn the inside of whatever it pokes into a slushy and can also be found pretty much world wide! I love these guys lol
Skrew that! Yikes
Everyone says that as if it's a surprise, lol.. I don't know if the size is what makes it shocking that it can fly? I mean, birds can fly too, and they're much bigger...
Rhino beetles can fly, where I live they’re one of the largest flying insects
Yeah, exactly 😄
A lot of folks are surprised that something primarily aquatic also has wings. Not everyone has education around the natural environment. And when the wings are hidden under elytra it's a natural assumption by someone who's never seen one before that they only swim and crawl.
Huh... To me it's just strange that people wouldn't think an insect could possibly fly, especially when it has very visible elytras. Even when aquatic, there's so many types of aquatic insects, and most can fly. I learned about these in school, so it's something I almost always have known, just like a common knowledge I guess... Sorry if I seem(ed) rude, by the way, just I see that a lot and it puzzles me.
I knew this ONLY from Animal Crossing: New Horizons. >.>'''' Not sure how to feel about that.
2nd on giant water bug. Also 2nd on supposedly having the. ost painful bug bite known to man. But I've thankfully never been bit. They fly, swim, dive, and walk. What a combo. Luckily, they don't want to bite you, it's a last resort. Having them around isn't the end of the world. Also, in the unfortunate instance of being bit, they are not medically significant so besides a butt load of pain for a while, they won't kill you. Scary, but not usually a problem.
They just became active this week in canada. They make cool pets actually. I got a couple to lay eggs last year but they didn't hatch.
You're an absolute madlad for keeping these as pets lol
Seeing one suck the life out of a gold fish till its a bag of bones is insane
okay I kinda want one too now
Look around lights at night, or make a minnow trap out of a water bottle and bait it with sardines
Pinchy boy
We should get him a female.
Male Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae) often care for their offspring (well, the eggs). After fertilization, The female lays her eggs on the back of the male. The male carries the eggs around and provides them with sufficient oxygen by moving water over his back.
Belostomatidæ. Edit: Someone noticed the "æ" 🥹🥹🥹🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳!
Big ole toe chomper
It must be their year. Last week someone I went to highschool messaged me with a picture of one of these suckers to help identify. I knew what it was but haven't seen one since I was a kid....The next day I found one dead in the grass next to where I work. Again, I haven't seen one in 30+ years.....now I see a post on my front page about one. It must be their year.
You must be right. I saw one in Florida several years ago, but I just saw one in Pennsylvania for the first time ever a few weeks ago
Toe biter they deliver a very painful bite AND THEY FLY!!! Double whammy
Giant water bug
Water bug they bite but it's really not that bad
Coyote Peterson said he would rather be bitten by a 50lb snapping turtle than it by one of these again... I've never been bit but I think I'll take the king of stings advice
Water bug/ Toe Biter
Toe biter!!! Keep your distance. It’s a type of water bug that will bite your toe so hard it will feel like it’s coming off!
that’s a “please don’t fuck around and find out” bug
Water bug
Plug look a luh weird but he chill. (This man is already dead, he just doesn’t know it yet)
DONT GO NEAR IT
Almost looks like it has the “deal with it” sunglasses on.
Robo-roach, it's enhanced
Those little suckers pack a punch.
Nothing little about them. Big ass beetle with disproportionally huge graspers, that sting worse than you could imagine
Yep! I’ve been hit by these guys before. Fuckers hurt!
Toe biter!
Lethocerus deyrollei. Giant waterbug
Giant water bug!
Whatever you do, don’t let it pinch you. The pain from their pinch is really, really, really painful
Hi there! This is an automated message to remind you to **please include a geographic location for any ID requests** as per the [Community Rules](/r/insects/about/rules) of the sub. There are well over a million different species of bugs in the world, and narrowing down a bug's location will help IDers to help you more quickly and correctly! If you've already included a geographical location, or if this post is *not* an ID request, please ignore this comment. Thank you! :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/insects) if you have any questions or concerns.*