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marks
06-24-2021, 07:00 PM
I found two of these underwater at the launch area of a lake near Truckee. Big suckers, about 3" long. Anyone know what they are? (Sorry for the image quality, it was still dark)

17133

Bill Kiene semi-retired
06-24-2021, 09:07 PM
Some kind of a large predatory water beetle? 3" ?

cmcdhuibh
06-28-2021, 06:47 PM
Giant water bug. I’ve seen them in Gerle creek. Probably everywhere, AKA toe biters. Painfull according to the internet

DLJeff
06-29-2021, 07:50 AM
Yup, giant water bug. Don't handle them, they can give you a serious pinch with the spikes on the two front legs. Think hellgrammite times 10. They eat other insects, small fish fry, tadpoles, small frogs and salamanders. Breathe through a snorkle from their butt.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/giant-water-bug.htm

Natekursow
06-29-2021, 08:54 PM
I've got them in a creek that runs through my property... picked one up once to see what it was and I can tell you that they're bite hurts!

hwchubb
02-05-2022, 09:29 AM
We had giant water beetles back east, could do a number on a small fish tank of bluegill and bass minnows. But I don’t recall them having those nasty mandibles on the front, just a beak. That thing in the picture is a monster!

grnwtrs
02-05-2022, 06:32 PM
Was that Gerle Creek in California?