# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/61 "2009-04-10T16:58:15Z")
> [@Panurge](#): > > Inspired by **stoid** ’s spider thread in the Pit, I did a little googling in an effort to find the biggest, nastiest bug out there. I might have found it: > If you are frightened by the size of the Australian [Huntsman Spider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider), I’m sure you won’t be happy to know that they are by no means the largest land-living arthropods out there. Check out the [Coconut](http://entertheoctopus.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/coconut-crabs/) [Crab](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab) - an absolute abomination of a crustacean. Living on islands in much of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, it can weigh up to 9 pounds(!) and feeds (among other things) on coconuts that it _breaks open with its claws._ > It might not be as dangerous as some of the arachnids, but I still wouldn’t want a close encounter with one. > So. - Anyone got anything bigger that still qualifies as a bug? MMMM, that crab looks…Delicious \ Oh crap, they’re only available in the southern hemisphere… ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/62 "2009-04-10T17:20:05Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > There’s always the Belostomatidae, aka Toe-Biter: > > Here’s a [picture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toe-Biter.jpg) of one carrying its eggs. > > Cheers! That looks remarkably like the [Water Scorpions](http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Water+Scorpion%22&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=pn7fSeLhDaTmlQffwKTgDg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title) we have in our pond, it’s a one acre man-made pond stocked with largemouth bass and a shallower swimming area I’ve been bitten by one of the thin Water Scorpions (we have both the thin and wide kinds in the pond) while swimming, and it’s _painful_, very painful, worse than a Yellow Jacket wasp sting Needless to say, I now have a vendetta against those horrid bugs, and anytime I see one, I find a handy rock, pull the bug out of the water, and it’s SMASHY time!, zero-tolerance, no negotiation, there is a standing death penalty for any Water Scorpion I find ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/63 "2009-04-10T17:22:36Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > MMMM, that crab looks…Delicious \ _You’re gonna need a bigger pot._ ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/64 "2009-04-10T17:29:33Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Given our motto of fighting ignorance and all, I should point out that the critters in your OP qualify as a bug. Technically, bugs are a specific order of insect (Hemiptera), but even in common usage, bug refers to insects, not any old arthropod. > > If crabs do count, by the way, there are water-dwelling crabs (e.g., some king crabs) that are much larger than the coconut crab. Class to Calvin: “Bats aren’t bugs!” Calvin: “Who’s giving the presentation here, you chowderheads or me?” (paraphrased from memory) ---
**Author:** ![mattomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@mattomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattomic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/65 "2009-04-10T19:06:38Z")
I’d love to see the coconut crabs clean house on what is no doubt the greatest evolution in the rich history of the Japanese gambling game, Japanese Bug Fights. [http://www.japanesebugfights.com/](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/) (Only NSFW if you work at PETA) ---
**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 10, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/66 "2009-04-10T19:57:00Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > Class to Calvin: “Bats aren’t bugs!” > Calvin: “Who’s giving the presentation here, you chowderheads or me?” > > (paraphrased from memory) The chowderheads. It’s _always_ the chowderheads. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/67 "2009-04-10T20:09:58Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > I’d love to see the coconut crabs clean house on what is no doubt the greatest evolution in the rich history of the Japanese gambling game, Japanese Bug Fights. > > [http://www.japanesebugfights.com/](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/) > (Only NSFW if you work at PETA) TYG that is my new favorite website. I now have plans for the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/68 "2009-04-10T23:20:51Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > I’d love to see the coconut crabs clean house on what is no doubt the greatest evolution in the rich history of the Japanese gambling game, Japanese Bug Fights. > > [http://www.japanesebugfights.com/](http://www.japanesebugfights.com/) > (Only NSFW if you work at PETA) I’m not a member of PETA, but I had a problem with these “fights”, as many were poorly matched and it was a given which “bug” would win… I have no problems with the Tarantula/Centipede/Scorpion/Tarantula Wasp matchups, as these insects have similar types of attacks (venom/fangs/stingers), however there are several unequal “WTF are they thinking would happen?” matches Round 20; Rhinoceros beetle Vs. blue crawfish - many problems here, first and foremost, the crawfish is not an insect, secondly, it’s an _aquatic_ crustacean, yes it has legs and claws, but it’s designed to be supported in water, and no, wetting the gravel is not an excuse, it also breathes through gills, not book lungs like insects so in this “match” the crawfish was out of it’s element, and, if not suffocating, at least inconvenienced, it spent the whole “match” trying to _escape_ from the beetle, which being a land animal, had an unfair advantage, it may have also had difficulty seeing where it was as it’s eyes are designed to work in a liquid environment so, pitting a visually challenged, motion-compromised, water breathing contender trying it’s best to get back into water against a land based challenger on the attack, real fair, guys…:rolleyes: Round 19; Tarantula Vs. Praying Mantis - Hmm, lets see, a venom-packing, fanged hunting insect against a large, soft bodied ambush insect with a \*tiny \* mouth that preys on insects much smaller than itself, i wonder how that one would go?.. the poor Mantis wouldn’t even be able to restrain a single leg of the tarantula and start slowly chewing through it… Round 18; Cave Cricket Vs. Mantis - once again, it comes down to tiny mouth (mantis) vs. large, clawed mouth (cave cricket), who’s setting up these matches, and do they have any concept of “fair play”? Round 14; Windscorpion Vs Cobrahead Praying Mantis - Does this bug you, I’m not touching you, does this bug you?.. this one was interesting as both contenders were pretty equally matched Round 10; Tarantula Wasp Vs. Praying Mantis - \ anotther foregone conclusion, one contender (hunter) with not only a large set of mandibles, but venom as well? Vs a tiny mouthed ambush predator? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/69 "2009-04-10T23:48:30Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > OK now. [Seriously](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Giant_isopod.jpg)? I mean, [seriously](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg)? T-shirt available [here.](http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-PRETTY&Category_Code=QC) ---
**Author:** ![mattomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@mattomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattomic)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/70 "2009-04-11T00:08:24Z")
Here’s a breakdown of the Japanese Bug Fights competitors, with expert analysis: [http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Japanese\_Bug\_Fights](http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Japanese_Bug_Fights) (NSFW since there’s a good chance you’ll get a dirty ad on the side) (edit: OH GOD and I didn’t even notice the shot of the tarantula on the guy’s… uh… yeah it’s definitely NSFW) ---
**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 11, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/71 "2009-04-11T00:12:24Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Round 20; Rhinoceros beetle Vs. blue crawfish - many problems here, first and foremost, the crawfish is not an insect… > [@MacTech](#): > > Round 19; Tarantula Vs. Praying Mantis - Hmm, lets see, a venom-packing, fanged hunting insect against a large, soft bodied ambush insect… Let’s be consistent here. You can’t make a big deal because they called the crawfish an insect, and then turn right around and call the tarantula an insect yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/72 "2009-04-11T05:11:38Z")
> [@mattomic](#): > > (edit: OH GOD and I didn’t even notice the shot of the tarantula on the guy’s… uh… yeah it’s definitely NSFW) Oh, fuck no! Why did- who would- what about the- GAH! WHOUDBWAH! UGH! Gods damn… fuckin’… internet… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/73 "2009-04-11T05:45:39Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Oh, fuck no! Why did- who would- what about the- GAH! WHOUDBWAH! UGH! Gods damn… fuckin’… internet… At times like this, you just have to remember that even if there were no internet, he’d still be doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/74 "2009-04-11T15:48:27Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > At times like this, you just have to remember that even if there were no internet, he’d still be doing it. True, but no one else would be seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/75 "2009-04-12T03:20:19Z")
> [@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. A certain quote about nuking things from orbit comes to mind. I mean, I may be a crazy anthropodophile (if that’s a word), but even I have my limits. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/76 "2009-04-12T23:49:07Z")
I am a) passing out from the pics of Barry and b) leaving that article up to freak out my husband. Four feet long. _Four feet long and **that** ugly and venomous._ Aaagh. ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/77 "2009-04-13T09:46:37Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Though the crab has the armour and the weapons, ultimately I’d bet on the racoon. Racoons are scary smart, and have hands. Dave Barry once wrote about trying to keep food away from raccoons while camping. He decided that if we really want to get to Mars, all we have to do is convince the raccoons that there is food up there, and they’ll find a way. ---
**Author:** ![tetranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@tetranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetranz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/78 "2009-04-13T11:15:49Z")
Rather mild compared to these other creatures but the [New Zealand weta](http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/invertebrates/weta/) can be kind of scary looking. It’s harmless. ---
**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 14, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/79 "2009-04-14T02:33:37Z")
Well, the new edition of the Guide says ‘Mostly harmless’. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2009, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377/80 "2009-04-14T07:54:01Z")
> [@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. Neat! The coconut crabs look very tastey to me. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bugs/492377.md?page=5)