scabies.myfreeforum.org

WBurke17 · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Azusa Canyons, East Fork I have found them in good numbers.
_________________
“Look down at me and you see a fool;
look up at me and you see a god;
look straight at me and you see yourself.”

Rosey · Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 10

Sorry to dig up an old-ish thread but I think these guys are awesome! I've never tried keeping them though!

We have Lethocerus americanus in Alberta and they're pretty common. Normally you don't see them for most of the open water season but then get a population explosion of adults in the fall (September). I've found them in rivers and in emergent vegetation along the shores of smaller lakes.

Just a cautionary note about keeping them... The adults do disperse, a lot of the time I'll see these guys flying around by my cabin and in the city around streetlights (they're attracted to light).

I've known a few people who have been "bitten" by them and apparently it hurts. A lot. They inject a venom that contains tissue-dissolving enzymes and then suck up the liquid, so some sort of lid or screen would be a pretty good idea if you're keeping them inside your house!

Steven · MOD - Greenthing General Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 1049

Rosey · Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 10

Hmmmmm... Do you know what species you've played with? Perhaps L. americanus is more aggressive... Or maybe the ones in Cali are more laid back! Wink

hahaha

I was the teaching assistant for an aquatic invert class last fall and my students had to prepare a museum quality specimen collection, one of my students ignored my warnings about being careful with them, picked it up and got a pretty nasty bite... He seemed like he was in agony for the rest of the collecting trip! That's the reason for my warning! Hahaha

I could probably collect some but I'd have no idea how to ship them and if it would even be legal! Any ideas?

Steven · MOD - Greenthing General Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 1049

balam · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject:

yeah well, while you are at it you should get some of these, I mean, this MOFO can take on a piranha Shocked

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/d...nture-water-bug-hunting-video.htm
_________________
God does not play at dice AE

What · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:47 am Post subject:

Celeste · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:40 am Post subject:

balam · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:40 am Post subject:

Well,, I think a piranha's size varies between 6-10" for adults, given that one may assume the prey in the video to be a younger piranha, my guess, that fish must have been ~4" ????

The bug is fairly larger... maybe 5-6" ??????

The largest Giant Water Bug in the family Belostomatidae can reach 150 mm... roughly 6". So then again, this guy may have just been a massive little beast.
_________________
God does not play at dice AE

Rosey · Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 10

Steven · MOD - Greenthing General Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 1049

[quote="Rosey"]