14 replies to this topic

[dean_k]

...

I found a water bug ( Naucoridae ).

 

On ground with no lake or pool anywhere nearby. Well, there is Ontario lake 40min away from my home. But I don't think it crawled all the way from there to here.

 

Why it was there. What it was doing. I have no idea.

 

Edited by dean_k, April 3 2015 - 2:57 PM.

[Crystals]

I see these, and other water beetles, flying by the thousands in early spring.  Usually just after the ice has completely gone off the lakes.

They land in many temporary puddles, and fly off again as they dry up.

[dean_k]

Are you sure they can fly? I see no wings.

[Crystals]

Oh, they fly, trust me.  I have had a few land on me over the years.

Just like many beetles, their wings are well hidden under the wing casing on the back.  Kind of like ladybugs, hard to imagine where they stick those wings. 

 

This is a dung beetle, but you get the idea:

[kellakk]

I wish I had these fly by me in the thousands...

[dean_k]

I tried to make it fly. It wouldn't fly. What do these eat anyway? This guy is an inch and is too big for ants, not to mention I don't want to kill it.

[kellakk]

I believe they're predatory. If you wanted to keep it, you could probably feed it anything around its size or smaller.

[AntTeen804]

They eat small minnows and dragonfly larvae

[Crystals]

I tried to make it fly. It wouldn't fly. What do these eat anyway? This guy is an inch and is too big for ants, not to mention I don't want to kill it.

It is probably resting up.  Like migratory birds that stay in one place for a few day before flying on.

 

They are predatory.  Usually going for any dead insect or fish.  Or else catching their own.  It may even accept a mealworm.

[dean_k]

It let it go yesterday but what do you know. It is snowing right now. it was 8c yesterday ...

 

I kind of figured it was predatory after looking at its front legs. When I held it, its grab on my finger was fairly strong. It never bit or anything though.

[dermy]

I hate those things with a passion [I don't kill them but I hate them] because they bite and it hurts like a spruce beetle thing

 

I see them in the fields since they fill with water. When they fly they look creepy, it's like a big black blob is coming to kill you.

[William. T]

Water bugs, especially water striders, feast on the corpses of insects washed down by rain drops. Perhaps put a bug or two on the water surface?

[dermy]

I think he released it.

[dean_k]

Yeah, I released it. Ants are far more interesting as well as entertaining, not to mention easier to keep.

[William. T]

I agree.