Today’s mistake of the week is a bit ugly. A post on the Vernon & Area community forum page on Facebook showed a rather mischievous beetle. The post has created a lot of opinions about what a creature is, but the general consensus is that the dark beetle is a water beetle. Also known as the giant water bug or toe, the large beetle can be found all over North America. They can grow to several inches and are called foot bites for a reason. Giant water bugs can give a painful, though non-toxic, bite often between the toes of unsuspecting human feet in the water. Giant water bugs can pretend to be dead and become rigid for several minutes if removed from the water only to be revived. Adults can not breathe underwater, so they should periodically place their breathing tube on the surface for air, similar to a respirator. And this big evil bug is a carnivorous hunter, which uses its front legs to grab prey such as tadpoles, small fish and other insects. Giant water bugs live in freshwater lakes, swamps and slow-moving streams in streams around the world – in Florida they are known as alligator ticks or alligator fleas. They are usually hidden in vegetation mats, just below the surface of the water. They are also known to live in backyard pools Did you have a close encounter with the insect species? Send me a photo at [email protected].
