Name That Bug.

[LegattoAD]

What the heck is this thing? I had two of these swim up into the hole a couple weekends ago.. Creeeepy. But at least now I know (for sure) that green pumpkin will be the color of choice on this lake.

[mixxedbagg]

It's a water boatman. I've seen them in various lakes around here. Kind of creepy if you're thinking about taking a dip. I've also seen them in puddles at various times of year, meaning they must disperse by flying. They get pretty huge and they can catch animals like tadpoles and minnows.

I have no idea if fish eat them....I've never found one while cleaning fish.

[IBFishin2]

What an ugly bug!

[Ed Carlson]

Gigantus Waterbugus Maximus....Hows that?

[reinhard1]

i have always known them as water beetles. they do get big. i've seen pictures of them chomping on a minnow. good luck.

[Great Outdoors]

You catch many of them, along with salamanders when trapping minnows in stagnant ponds.

If you crush one, you will realize the error of your ways because they have a really unique odor

[Ed Carlson]

I have a story on them, kinda funny.

Years ago, some 20 -30 in fact, or so my now ex-wife but then my fiancee and I lived in our first home together...a remodeled Barber Shop..quaint place on main drag in my home town..our first nest.

Well I was into bait selling on the side and I also worked construction. To help pay for my fishing habit, I also had a few large coolers in the front entry filled with minnows that I sold for bait...and a few of them big old Boatman Water Beatles tended to find there way in with the minnows.

She was always creepped out by bugs but I seen no need to get rid of them.

I told her "Ah..."don't worry they won't get out, there water bugs". This was winter and I trapped bait through the ice, so the beatles were used to being very cold and in there water born phase.

Well one day I returned from work and she had already done the same about 4 hours or so earlier.

But once I entered our house there was no sign of her.

So I looked around and then I found her locked in the bathroom, and once she knew it was me...OH...Boy...was she Ticked off and boiling mad.

Ya see she got home, took off her coat and turned on the light, and about then a few of them big boy Beatles wet to wing and were buzz'n around the living room and one hit her on the head.

She had real long hair and it stuck..OFF she went..screeching and flailing to the bathroom and locked herself in tell I returned home.

Took a while to talk her out of the bathroom too, I had to confirm several kills on the menacing Beatles first...she would take no chances.

I had a struggle on my hands to keep the bait in the house after that, but after much keen negotiation on my part, I got it settled and ...I lost...bait was now outside...or else. I built a compartment for the tanks outside along the building, and peace was restored to the nest.

To this day, if I want a rise out of her, all I need to do is mention the Winged Water Beatles...and it's Game On all over again.

[reinhard1]

never knew they flew around. man, that must of got her blood flowing. great story but i can see why she was upset. good luck.

[Ed Carlson]

They thought it was spring aparently, they warmed up, went into spring reproduction mode and off they go to wing.

You see them around lights at night.

They make one heck of a racket with there wings when in flight too, they sound like a B-52 buzz'n by.

Upset may have been an understatement at the time.

This was Upset #1 as far as adapting to living with a fisherman.

If I remember right, Big Time Upset #2 involved Nightcrawlers in her lettuces heads in the crisper drawer...that one was memorable too.

Yah you guessed it...no more bait in the fridge, I lost that battle too.

[reinhard1]

my wife and daughters to this day freak out at the june bugs buzzing around them at the campfire in the evening, i would hate to see how loud a scream one of these guys would do for them. i had the nightcrawler deal as well, crawling all over the fridge. my wife is ok with it as long as i keep them on the bottom and in a escape free container. good luck.

[LegattoAD]

I just tossed these guys out of the house with my ice scoop since they refused to make the 19" swim back down the hole. My first time seeing these so I was curious as well as a little creeped out, thought maybe the house had roaches or something until I watched the second bug swim up the hole. I breathed a little easier after that.

I've heard stories of bait getting lose in the fridge but so did my wife, so all my stuff has taken residency in the beer fridge in the garage!

[Maverick]

Ed was pretty close. Its common name is Giant Water Bug and it's scientific name is Lethocerus americanus. I wonder if fish feed on them.

[goblueM]

its actually not a waterboatman - this guy is called a Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus)

they're pretty much badasses, and can give you a really nasty bite, apparently one of the most painful insect bites out there

last fall I watched one kill a 3 inch long smallmouth bass

[reinhard1]

thanks, i'll make sure not to get playfull with these things. good luck.

[Tom7227]

I have a story on them, kinda funny.

Is that why you list your residence as a van down by the river or whatever it says? Great story. Not sure I'd bring it up real often to the ex.

[WalleyeChaser]

Are you sure that isn't the pilot of the UFO the supposedly got Brosdahl?

[Ice_Ninja85]

Those things are out of this world that's for sure. I have a weird story:

My first job out of high school was at a car dealership. We would find these suckers in the seal groves when we opened the trunks on cars. They would be 4"-4 1/2" long! Pretty nasty surprise when you're not expecting it. After hours we would make our nightly rounds in the lot checking to make sure everything was locked and there would be a horde of them under the light lamps. After one customer freaked out we were told to double check the newly sold vehicles and fish them out with a stick before it rolled off the lot. Most would flee but once in a while you'd get one that would go on the attack.