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Post Info TOPIC: Giant Water Bug?!
Flying Dutchman


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Giant Water Bug?!
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My son and I came across this "dead" beauty floating down the Stan.  Up until then, I had not seen anything quite like that--looked more like a roach on steroids!  We took it home to investigate.  Was I surprised to find out what we have...Or think we have!!!

         *highly predacious and very vicious

*will bite the toes of someone swimming

*adults can grow over 2 inches in length -- 4 inches in South America

*capable of inflicting a painful bite with their strong beak, and may also pinch with their front legs

*prey on aquatic insects, small fish, frogs, tadpoles, small birds (newly hatched ducklings), and other organisms they are able to capture

*powerful enzymes are injected into prey to kill them

From what I've gathered, very little is written about giant water bugs in terms of fly fishing and patterns.  I don't recall a single book in my collection mentioning them.  Typically, the waterboatman (from the same order) grabs the attention.  Yet, some fishermen have found a high percentage of giant water bugs in stomach samples of larger fish.

If this isn't a giant water bug, please clarify.  I would like to know what it is, then.

DSC01310.jpg

DSC01310.jpgDSC01309.jpg

Just another reason to wear boots!  biggrin



-- Edited by Flying Dutchman at 15:54, 2008-06-15

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Emerger


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Wow! I'm speechless.

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Cliff
Otter


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That's a pretty cool bug. There a couple of videos on You Tube. "Giant water bug catches fish" is one of them.

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chris
cole


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Before the pics came up I was reading your descprition and thinking Hellgramite, but that thing is a monster, half bug half bat.  JT was telling me many moons ago about a snake fly which I have never seen.

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JT


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That bug is massive!  Can they bite through waders?  I don't know about wet wading anymore.  I may have to start wearing armor. 

Cole,
Here is a picture of a snakefly.

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windknots


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I know exactly what that is, it's the same bug that crawled out of Kim Jong Il at the end of Team America World Police!

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SK60


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This is one of the "true bugs" (Hemiptera). The group includes a variety of "sucking bugs" from plant feeders to blood feeders. Many like this one are predators, capturing their prey and sucking them dry with their piercing mouth parts. Will bite if handled. This one likes small frogs in particular. Most commonly found in still water like ponds. Another large predator is the aquatic hydrophilid beetle. You may have seen them around outdoor lights in the fall when they migrate from water areas. Shiny black, up to two inches as well with a spear like stylet tucked under the abdomen, legs like oars. Have been known to spear the hand if handled roughly, otherwise not a threat. Also feed on frogs and other aquatic insects.smile

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