# BIG bugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377 "2009-04-08T11:27:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/21 "2009-04-08T20:39:24Z")
I played dead and emitted fluid from my anus for a moment or two after clicking on that link. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/22 "2009-04-08T21:09:10Z")
If you think that’s bad, don’t read the [article:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Water_Bug) > [@](#): > > Giant water bugs are a popular food in Thailand. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/23 "2009-04-08T21:24:13Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > ETA: Does “bug” automatically mean “insect”? I always sort of used the word “bugs” to include insects AND spiders and their ilk. To a scientist and/or pedant, it refers to a specific order of insects, originally known as “bugs” and now called “true bugs” because most of the English-speaking world uses the term “bug” to refer to any old insect. Many use it to refer to pretty much anything small and skittery with \>4 legs. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I played dead and emitted fluid from my anus for a moment or two after clicking on that link. I’d prefer not to think about fluids emitted from a dung beetle’s anus. Do dung beetles have anuses (anii?)? ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/24 "2009-04-08T21:39:53Z")
They’re not so scary; nothing a pot (a _biggg_ pot) of boiling water and a few shakes of Old Bay wouldn’t take care of. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/25 "2009-04-08T21:49:22Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > There’s always the Belostomatidae, aka Toe-Biter: > > Occasionally when encountered by a larger predator, such as a human, they have been known to “play dead” and emit a fluid from their anus. > > Here’s a [picture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toe-Biter.jpg) of one carrying its eggs. > > Cheers! Having clicked on the photo and stared at it for a while, I need to ask - which end is the anus on that ugly-looking thing? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/26 "2009-04-08T23:49:23Z")
It ate…a fucking…bat ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/27 "2009-04-08T23:55:45Z")
Also… The crab is [THIS](http://blog.lokonopa.com/wp-includes/images/blog/crab1.jpg) big. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/28 "2009-04-09T00:05:24Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Having clicked on the photo and stared at it for a while, I need to ask - which end is the anus on that ugly-looking thing? What **I** want to know is who are these humans that, upon viewing the anal fluid, not only just “assume” it’s dead based on that evidence alone, but then **resume floating around in its vicinity**?! ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/29 "2009-04-09T08:30:37Z")
That coconut crab looks neat, I’d love to see it live. For big bugs check out the [Titan Beetle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanus_giganteus). 6-and-a-half inches of pencil snapping flesh eating fun! ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/30 "2009-04-09T08:50:13Z")
> [@SunSandSuffering](#): > > For big bugs check out the [Titan Beetle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanus_giganteus). 6-and-a-half inches of pencil snapping flesh eating fun! Interesting. The wiki prompts me to correct you: they’re not flesh-eating, because they do not eat. Somehow, Titan Beetles do not feed as adults. The article does not say how long the “adult” stage lasts. But before you breathe easy about not being eaten, I would point out that these gigantic beetles – six-and-a-half inches long, spiny, and hissing – spend their days flying around looking for mates. They [freaking](http://www.greenpacks.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/titanius-giganteus.jpg) [fly](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44313000/jpg/_44313644_beetletitan.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/31 "2009-04-09T11:07:57Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > Thirteen feet across? _Thirteen feet across?_ :eek: Wiki says that it has a “gentle disposition.” Do you believe Wiki enough to find out? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/32 "2009-04-09T11:14:41Z")
They don’t eat? - Odd. [I think this one does, though](http://z.about.com/d/paranormal/1/0/9/V/1/giant-earwig.jpg). It’s almost extinct so no risk of pitching your tent on a colony - except, perhaps, if you are camping at St. Helena. ([Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_helena_earwig)). ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/33 "2009-04-09T11:43:25Z")
Living in Australia I’m quite familiar with Huntsman Spiders, though only smaller ones, up to the size of your fist. It’s still creepy when they’re big enough that you can hear them skittering about. > [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > Wiki says that it has a “gentle disposition.” > > Do you believe Wiki enough to find out? > > :eek: You know that anyone can edit Wikipedia. For all you know a Spider Crab wrote that to lull its prey into a false sense of security. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/34 "2009-04-09T13:13:43Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I’d prefer not to think about fluids emitted from a dung beetle’s anus. Do dung beetles have anuses (anii?)? I refuse to provide a cite. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/35 "2009-04-09T13:48:34Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > The absolute largest, on the other hand, is that unholy terror of the deep known as the [spider crab](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_spider_crab). I saw a couple of those suckers in an aquarium- horror movie material if I ever saw one. I know - it’s the way they wave their palps at you, like they’re signalling their bizarre, alien thoughts. We’re just lucky Lovecraft never saw any… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/36 "2009-04-09T13:51:31Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > ETA: Does “bug” automatically mean “insect”? I always sort of used the word “bugs” to include insects AND spiders and their ilk. According to Calvin, bats are bugs. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/37 "2009-04-09T14:05:29Z")
He’s not a bug by most definitions, but [Barry the giant sea worm](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1165930/Barry-giant-sea-worm-discovered-aquarium-staff-mysterious-attacks-coral-reef.html) definitely deserves a mention in a thread full of horrifying things. > [@](#): > > Aquarium staff have unearthed a ‘giant sea’ worm that was attacking coral reef and prize fish. > > The 4ft long monster, named Barry, had launched a sustained attack on the reef in a display tank at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium over recent months. > > Workers at the Cornwall-based attraction had been left scratching their heads as to why the coral had been left devastated and - in some cases - cut in half. > > … > > Staff eventually lured it out with fish scraps, but not before it bit through 20lb fishing line. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/38 "2009-04-09T14:26:01Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Dad-a-chum? Did-a-chick? :eek: > > Damn me for staying up late last night, reading “The Drawing of the Three”. > > Lobstrosities… Nice. 🙂 That picture of the coconut crab on the garbage can gives me the willies. At first, you’re all, “Well, it’s OK - big, but not that scary.” Then you realize you’re looking at a picture. Imagine seeing that thing outside your house, molesting your garbage can. I’d freak right the hell out, I would. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/39 "2009-04-09T15:14:46Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > You know that anyone can edit Wikipedia. For all you know a Spider Crab wrote that to lull its prey into a false sense of security. > [@Snickers](#): > > At first, you’re all, “Well, it’s OK - big, but not that scary.” Then you realize you’re looking at a picture. Imagine seeing that thing outside your house, molesting your garbage can. I’m LOL’ing. Great visuals in my head of the crab editing Wiki and the other crab molesting the garbage can. I am enjoying this thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/40 "2009-04-09T15:31:28Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > He’s not a bug by most definitions, but [Barry the giant sea worm](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1165930/Barry-giant-sea-worm-discovered-aquarium-staff-mysterious-attacks-coral-reef.html) definitely deserves a mention in a thread full of horrifying things. I wonder if that is the answer to a mystery I’ve had for years now. Many, many years ago I was visiting a place called Tioman Island off the cost of Malaysia. I spent some time on the beach there, looking at the fabulous creatures. One day, I turned over a rock and discovered this … creature. I captured it in a bucket for better viewing. It appeared to be some sort of undersea centepede. It was about a foot long, had legs, and was sort of rainbow-coloured irredecent /slightly translucent. It had huge powerful jaws on the front, and was very active and aggressive - it lashed out at twigs poked into the bucket most impressively. The thing certainly looked most poisionous and I wasn’t about to put my fingers anywhere near it! I was always puzzled by what the heck it was. I never saw anything like it before or since. Maybe it was something like this worm (though it didn’t look exactly like this thing). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377.md?page=3)