Giant Water Bug

This is a large insect species with equally large and very noticeable foreleg pincers. They are used to catch underwater prey like small fish, frogs and sometimes snakes. Its body is mostly flat and oval shaped with dark brown, "dead leaf" coloring. The Giant Water Bug is known to play dead in order to escape predators. It is also able to deliver a painful bite when disturbed or threatened by people (it carries the the nickname of "Toe-biter"). Unsuspecting swimmers may get a toe pinched by one if they step too closely.

They make their homes at the bottom of muddy waters or surrounding vegetation. They are drawn to light sources at night and, therefore, often find themselves in or around backyard pools. Females may aggressively defend their eggs, which they lay at the edge of waterlines. Their hairy legs help them swim though they can often be found in mud, or hiding at the bottom of ponds.

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