The Toe-Biter: True Bugs and Devoted Dads

Male Giant Water Bug or "Toe-Biter," Homer Lake Wetland, July 5, 2021

You won't find me wading barefoot in the wetland. There are a number of reasons for this, but near the top of the list is the fact that I know there is a healthy population of giant water bugs, also known as toe-biters. Unlike the "darning needle" nickname given to dragonflies based on a superstition that they could sew your lips closed, the toe-biter label is well earned. These are large, predacious insects that feed on other aquatic insects as well as tadpoles and other small vertebrates.  Larger species of giant water bugs, found mostly in the tropics, are reported even to feed on baby turtles, small snakes and ducklings!

These are true bugs. Although we commonly use the word "bug" to refer to anything with six legs (or maybe even anything "creepy crawly"), true bugs are a specific order of insects with their own characteristics.  One of the characteristics of the true bugs is a hypodermic needle-like mouthpart through which digestive juices are injected and then liquified meals sipped. (In the photo above, this specialized injection needle can be seen folded back under the front of the giant water bug's face -- click the photo to view it larger.) Some true bugs suck their meals out of plants. Many others, like the giant water bugs, of which there are some 170 species worldwide, are predators. This means they grab a suitable victim with their front legs, inject their toxic, digestive saliva and then suck up the liquified insides of their prey. While giant water bugs do not prey on humans, they can (and do) nevertheless inflict a painful bite. 

That information may be somewhat off-putting, but giant water bugs also have an endearing trait.  The giant water bug in the photos is a male and he is carrying the eggs of his offspring glued to his wings. The female giant water bug glues her eggs onto her mate's wings and he carries them through to their hatching.  In the time I was observing this male, he frequently passed his long hind legs over the eggs. You may notice that the eggs on both left and right sides of his back are free of the organic matter that has collected on the eggs more centrally located. I believe this is due to his attentive care.

In the photo below, the giant water bug has surfaced and is siphoning air into his system via a tube at his back end. 

Other fun facts: when they don't have eggs glued to their wings, giant water bugs are capable of flight and are often attracted to electric lights at night.They can, therefore, at times end up in swimming pools. The largest species of giant water beetles, in the tropics, are up to four and a half inches long!

Giant Water Bug at the Surface Siphoning Air


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