See that little red-eyed devil in the middle? Yeah, that's the one. I don't know what it is exactly, maybe some sort of water bug, but I know one thing for certain -- it bites!
OW- There's nothing like actual hands-on experience to teach us what's what in life! Most critters won't bite unless handled carelessly. This little guy was just crawling along my finger and everything was lovely until he got to my wedding ring. Then, zing! He zapped me. I brushed him back onto his duckweed mat and made a mental note to avoid picking up anymore red-eyed devils in the future :)
Do you suppose it could be dobsonfly or fishing fly nymph? I haven't looked at the larvel photographs of those, but I do recall the mandibles and ability to bite.
Wayne, I'm pretty sure it is a creeping water bug, Family Naucoridae. There are 4 genera and 23 species in North America. I have no way of keying it out further since I returned it intact to its home.
He looks pretty young. Great looking specimen, though, despite the under-developed wings, etc. There's only one photo of this genus up at bugguide. Maybe you'd consider posting this photo and your story as well.
I've been zinged by a water bug, and buddy it HURTS. Good on you for not crushing the little ingrate out of anger. I probably would have!
8 comments:
Whoa that looks like something out of a horror movie!
Feels like it too when they bite. Damn toe biters!
Heh, and it doesn't take much provocation for them to bite. I think this is an immature creeping water bug. Not sure which genus though.
I presume that you found out about their antagonistic biting the hard way.
OW-
There's nothing like actual hands-on experience to teach us what's what in life!
Most critters won't bite unless handled carelessly. This little guy was just crawling along my finger and everything was lovely until he got to my wedding ring. Then, zing! He zapped me. I brushed him back onto his duckweed mat and made a mental note to avoid picking up anymore red-eyed devils in the future :)
Do you suppose it could be dobsonfly or fishing fly nymph? I haven't looked at the larvel photographs of those, but I do recall the mandibles and ability to bite.
Wayne,
I'm pretty sure it is a creeping water bug, Family Naucoridae. There are 4 genera and 23 species in North America. I have no way of keying it out further since I returned it intact to its home.
He looks pretty young. Great looking specimen, though, despite the under-developed wings, etc. There's only one photo of this genus up at bugguide. Maybe you'd consider posting this photo and your story as well.
I've been zinged by a water bug, and buddy it HURTS. Good on you for not crushing the little ingrate out of anger. I probably would have!
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