# Horrifying Bugs Invading Earth
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [April 14, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736 "2012-04-14T03:04:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/1 "2012-04-14T03:04:15Z")
Allegedly they’ve been around for awhile but I don’t believe it. Just the other day I saw one of these absolutely terrifying monsters:
[ ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jciv/2612528515/)
I swear the animal was three inches long. At least. It was so big at first I thought it was a plastic toy, because I assumed Canada could not have insects this large. But real it was.
And then tonight a friend found one IN HER HOME.
I am moving to Antarctica.
---
### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/2 "2012-04-14T03:13:07Z")
I have never seen or heard of these before. Must be a west coast rainforest kind of bug. I hope.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/3 "2012-04-14T03:40:24Z")
> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> I have never seen or heard of these before. Must be a west coast rainforest kind of bug. I hope.
Southern Ontario, sorry to tell you.
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### Author:  [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/4 "2012-04-14T03:43:33Z")
Hey, cool! I say we welcome them and take them to our leaders.
Seriously, where on Earth did they come from?
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/5 "2012-04-14T03:47:27Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Southern Ontario, sorry to tell you.
Aaaaahhhh!!!
Er, I mean, how interesting!
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/6 "2012-04-14T03:52:29Z")
Some type of water bug. Very cool, but keep your fingers away from it!😛
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/7 "2012-04-14T04:48:19Z")
> [@blondebear](#):
>
> Some type of water bug. Very cool, but keep your fingers away from it!😛
No kidding!
> [@](#):
>
> Their bite is considered one of the most painful that can be inflicted by any insect (the Schmidt Sting Pain Index excludes insects other than Hymenoptera), however, though excruciatingly painful, it is of no medical significance.
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### Author:  [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/8 "2012-04-14T05:03:39Z")
I found one of these in the yard once (on Vancouver Island). First thought was “what in the hell is that thing?!?!” I thought it must have fallen off a plane or something, there was no way that could live around me. After a little research I found that they do, indeed, live around me!
I lived in Ontario for a while years ago and one time I was driving down the road and out the corner of my eye I see that I’ve driven past some odd, green bug sitting on the side of the road.
“Waaaait a minute…” I say and pull over, get out and walk back to see the bug. It was a Praying Mantis! I had NO IDEA we had those in Canada. I bent over really close to see him and he turned his head and looked up at me. Creeped me right out. So then I was worried about him being so close to the road and put my hand near him to shoo him off the road and the bugger jumped at me. I pretty much screamed my head off and ran away back to the car.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/9 "2012-04-14T05:26:21Z")
Ah, the [Toe-Biter](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/03/toebiter_peru.jpg). A personal favorite. A very non-sexist critter, as with the noble sea-horse the males cart around the [young’uns](http://www.alexanderwild.com/Insects/Bountiful-Bugs/Abedus1j/1060843628_Nr4EJ-L-1.jpg).
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/10 "2012-04-14T06:36:26Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#):
>
> Hey, cool! I say we welcome them and take them to our leaders.
>
> Seriously, where on Earth did they come from?
I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.
Somebody had to say it. 😃
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### Author:  [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/11 "2012-04-14T07:37:42Z")
Just wait until [tarantula hawks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk) cross the border. You will not only learn about pain, these critters were probably the inspiration for the Alien movies.
I got stung by one of them and it hurt so bad that I couldn’t cuss. Killer bees have nothing on them.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/12 "2012-04-14T07:48:08Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#):
>
> I bent over really close to see him and he turned his head and looked up at me. Creeped me right out.
[First time I saw that happen](http://www.flickr.com/photos/7403998@N05/6929800290/in/photostream), it then started to bob from side to side, which looked kind of aggressive, but actually it turns out it just aids their depth perception.
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### Author:  [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/13 "2012-04-14T11:33:14Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Allegedly they’ve been around for awhile but I don’t believe it. Just the other day I saw one of these absolutely terrifying monsters:
>
> [Giant Water Bug | family Belostomatidae | jciv | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/jciv/2612528515/)
>
> I swear the animal was three inches long. At least. It was so big at first I thought it was a plastic toy, because I assumed Canada could not have insects this large. But real it was.
>
> And then tonight a friend found one IN HER HOME.
>
> I am moving to Antarctica.
Holy crap, why does the huge bug have biceps?
_whimper_
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### Author:  [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/14 "2012-04-14T12:00:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Allegedly they’ve been around for awhile but I don’t believe it. Just the other day I saw one of these absolutely terrifying monsters:
That’s just a Giant Water Bug. They disperse this time of year and are looking for a new home to get down in. They get confused easily, however, and often end up in parking lots - thinking they are ponds.
I found one when I was out walking the other day and brought it home to release in our back pond area.
Come on, they’re kinda cute! Indigenous to at least northern areas of North America - I’ve found them in Maine - Michigan. Don’t let them near your pet tadpoles, however.
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/15 "2012-04-14T14:14:02Z")
> [@blondebear](#):
>
> Some type of water bug. Very cool, but keep your fingers away from it!😛
Word.
I caught one (briefly) in northern Minnesota when I was, oh, 8 years old or so.
I don’t think it managed a full chomp, but I very promptly released it back into the lake.
BTW, I see these things all the time in the lakes and ponds. Very common.
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/16 "2012-04-14T15:38:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> I am moving to Antarctica.
Are you volunteering to be [Orca-chow?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxDZW4k8tCY)
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### Author:  [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/17 "2012-04-14T15:47:58Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> Ah, the [Toe-Biter](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/03/toebiter_peru.jpg). A personal favorite. A very non-sexist critter, as with the noble sea-horse the males cart around the [young’uns](http://www.alexanderwild.com/Insects/Bountiful-Bugs/Abedus1j/1060843628_Nr4EJ-L-1.jpg).
WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW!?
Both of those pictures actually made me feel physically woozy.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/18 "2012-04-14T16:19:21Z")
Kill it with fire!
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/19 "2012-04-14T16:32:22Z")
Be happy you don’t have any “cicada killer” wasps where you are. Those things are huge and buzz loud enough to make you think a WWI biplane is zooming around your head.
I am not linking to a picture, because that means I would need to first _find_ a picture, and I do _not_ search for bug pictures, because then I would _see_ bug pictures. You see how this would be a problem.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrifying-bugs-invading-earth/618736/20 "2012-04-14T16:44:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> the Schmidt Sting Pain Index excludes insects other than Hymenoptera
Who the hell came up with this Sting Pain Index? (I know, Schmidt). And who volunteered for the research?
I’m betting it was similar quality science as that which lead to the Scoville Hot Pepper Heat Scale (designed by Wilbur Scoville and a panel of tasters).
Anyway, the water bug doesn’t bother me much. The insect I see fairly frequently around here that creeps me out the most is the praying mantis. When I get up close to or pick up one, they always turn their heads and eye me cooly (“Will I be able to make a meal out of this one? Darn, it looks too big.”)
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