These insects seem almost fearless in their predation
April 3, 2019 2:47 PM Subscribe
According to the latest research, giant water bugs flex like Popeye, eat ducks and snakes, force their males to take an active role in parenting, and are tasty either fried or boiled.
Content advisory: the linked article contains photos and inline video of giant water bugs completely owning larger vertebrates.
Content advisory: the linked article contains photos and inline video of giant water bugs completely owning larger vertebrates.
Annie Dillard's description of seeing a frog being eaten by a giant water bug has terrified me for years now.
posted by Archer25 at 4:28 PM on April 3, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by Archer25 at 4:28 PM on April 3, 2019 [10 favorites]
Male parental care is not as unusual as we mammals like to think. In fish, for example, "when external fertilization and parental care co-occur, it is usually the male that provides care (76% of cases)."
posted by clawsoon at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
flex like Popeye, eat ducks and snakes, force their males to take an active role in parenting, and are tasty either fried or boiled.
"What are objectivists, Alex?"
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:09 PM on April 3, 2019 [11 favorites]
"What are objectivists, Alex?"
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:09 PM on April 3, 2019 [11 favorites]
Have been bitten by Toe Biter and can confirm it really hurts. Also generally completely unexpected. 0/10. Do not recommend.
posted by fshgrl at 6:08 PM on April 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 6:08 PM on April 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
Holy God, I saw the picture of the giant water bug eating the fish and my eyes popped out of my head a little. I don't know what I was expecting, but somehow it still surprised me. Terrifying.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:21 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:21 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
Wait, do they flex like Popeye in the cartoon, or like Robin Williams in the 1979 Robert Altman film shot in Malta atop a bespoke shantytown set and a mountain of cocaine?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:38 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:38 PM on April 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
Archer25, that was a wonderfully written and terrifying story, thank you for sharing.
One of the things i'm known for, I guess, is liking bugs. Friends like sending me bug memes, asking me bug questions, having me rescue them etc. I can't say that I like this bug. I respect it, as you do all life. But I'm not interested in encountering one.
Growing up we had a lot of what i came to learn were tent caterpillars in the tree in our front yard. My sister and I emptied out our dollhouse on the front porch and would "raise" the caterpillars, building elaborate stick sculptures, soda caps full of water, etc. I loved petting them, I loved how they felt walking across my hand. Each caterpillar had a beautiful, unique combination of stripes and spots in black, white, turquoise, and copper. I could sit for a long time, watching their soft bodies undulate as the slowly trekked across my fingers, rearing their fuzzy black heads up to search for something to climb on.
My favorite bug find was a female eastern Hercules beetle. I didn't know what she was at the time, but I picked her up anyway. She was in a parking lot and I didn't want her to get hurt, and besides most Dynastinae fight, don't bite. Her feet were a bit spiky and she gripped my hand firmly. It reminded me of the June bugs that used to live by the hundreds in our azalea bushes growing up. Her shell was on the green side, and had lovely black freckles scattered across the back. She was pretty large for her species, covering almost the back of my hand. She eventually just flew away calmly, and I continued into work.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:18 AM on April 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
One of the things i'm known for, I guess, is liking bugs. Friends like sending me bug memes, asking me bug questions, having me rescue them etc. I can't say that I like this bug. I respect it, as you do all life. But I'm not interested in encountering one.
Growing up we had a lot of what i came to learn were tent caterpillars in the tree in our front yard. My sister and I emptied out our dollhouse on the front porch and would "raise" the caterpillars, building elaborate stick sculptures, soda caps full of water, etc. I loved petting them, I loved how they felt walking across my hand. Each caterpillar had a beautiful, unique combination of stripes and spots in black, white, turquoise, and copper. I could sit for a long time, watching their soft bodies undulate as the slowly trekked across my fingers, rearing their fuzzy black heads up to search for something to climb on.
My favorite bug find was a female eastern Hercules beetle. I didn't know what she was at the time, but I picked her up anyway. She was in a parking lot and I didn't want her to get hurt, and besides most Dynastinae fight, don't bite. Her feet were a bit spiky and she gripped my hand firmly. It reminded me of the June bugs that used to live by the hundreds in our azalea bushes growing up. Her shell was on the green side, and had lovely black freckles scattered across the back. She was pretty large for her species, covering almost the back of my hand. She eventually just flew away calmly, and I continued into work.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:18 AM on April 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
I remember seeing them when spring cleaning our pool as a kid. I was pretty awestruck that this giant super bug could swim, crawl and also fly expertly.
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:07 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:07 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
are tasty either fried or boiled.
I mean, I was down with the "fried", a little suspicious about the "boiled", but willing to entertain the possibility either way until the article linked in the article said they taste like liquorice, which, no thanks.
posted by soundguy99 at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
I mean, I was down with the "fried", a little suspicious about the "boiled", but willing to entertain the possibility either way until the article linked in the article said they taste like liquorice, which, no thanks.
posted by soundguy99 at 11:39 AM on April 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Annie Dillard's description of seeing a frog being eaten by a giant water bug has terrified me for years now.
I read it. I'm going to be sick.
My wife still hasn't forgiven me for showing her pictures of the Suriname toad giving birth, so I figure I had this coming.
posted by duffell at 11:49 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
I read it. I'm going to be sick.
My wife still hasn't forgiven me for showing her pictures of the Suriname toad giving birth, so I figure I had this coming.
posted by duffell at 11:49 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
This sounds interesting. Too bad I will never get more information because I have no wish to lay eyes on that bug. Especially not interested in seeing video of it in motion.
Any articles completely devoid of photographic or video evidence?
posted by Julnyes at 3:06 PM on April 4, 2019
Any articles completely devoid of photographic or video evidence?
posted by Julnyes at 3:06 PM on April 4, 2019
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