# If that was an insect, what was it?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 6, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327 "2008-09-06T11:58:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@the\_PC\_apeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_PC_apeman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/1 "2008-09-06T11:58:58Z")
Last night the cats were intrigued by something on the second-floor back deck, just beyond the sliding glass doors. I thought it might be another raccoon visit (one had recently ripped the grease trap off the bottom of my grill.) I stepped out to investigate but no sign of a raccoon.
Then, all of the sudden, something flies into my chest, falls to the deck, and starts complaining like an angry cicada. Now I have to admit that I was really startled and jumped back in revulsion and let out a shudder that could have, with just a little more coaxing, become a child-like shriek.
I got a only a brief glance at what fell onto the deck. And it was dark, the only light coming from inside the house behind me, casting shadows in front of me. Whatever hit me, it seemed to have fallen on it’s back, righted itself and quickly disappeared into the night before I could recover my composure.
So I’m probably not a reliable witness but here is what I thought I saw. It was large (for an insect) maybe 1.5 to 2" long and wide - maybe slightly wider than long, almost crab-like in proportions. Its underside was light-colored and when it flipped over it was quite dark-colored. It sounded like a cicada with a deep clicking noise but it didn’t look like any cicada I’d ever seen. I live in suburban Charleston, West Virginia with several large trees in the back yard if that’s any clue.
Have my eyes or imagination deceived me or could there really be such an insect? I didn’t get to see legs or wings in the dark. Maybe it was a small bat. I’ve seen some that size in local caves but never with a light-colored belly. Any ideas?
PC
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### Author:  [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/2 "2008-09-06T12:22:24Z")
My bet is a bat. They can be really small. Maybe its’ hearing was damaged.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/3 "2008-09-06T12:26:32Z")
Cicadas come in [all shapes and sizes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada#Gallery). Maybe that’s all it was.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/4 "2008-09-06T15:27:07Z")
Could be a Toe-Biter, aka Giant Water Bug, aka Electric Light Bug. It’s a True Bug in the [Belostomatidae](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_water_bug). They’re vaguely oval-shaped, generally a bit flattened, impressively large, can fly and are ocasionally attracted to porch lights. They also have a nasty bite.
They’ve always impressed the crap out of me ( we have them locally ).
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### Author:  [@the\_PC\_apeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_PC_apeman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/5 "2008-09-06T16:17:26Z")
**Tamerlane** , those are some nasty looking creatures. Some seem to be a closer match but not quite what I remember. I’m thinking my ridge-top home might not be the right habitat too. And the only nearby water or any note is a river way down in the valley.
**GuanoLad** , thanks for the link with all the cicada pics. It’s hard to get a sense of scale from most. I’m beginning to doubt my recollections even more.
Maybe the bat idea is worth more of my consideration, **BlueOhio**. Anyone familiar with a species with a light-colored breast?
PC
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/6 "2008-09-06T16:20:33Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> Could be a Toe-Biter, aka Giant Water Bug, aka Electric Light Bug. It’s a True Bug in the [Belostomatidae](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_water_bug). They’re vaguely oval-shaped, generally a bit flattened, impressively large, can fly and are ocasionally attracted to porch lights. They also have a nasty bite.
>
> They’ve always impressed the crap out of me ( we have them locally ).
In the Bay Area? Where? I never saw them in all my time living there, but now I’m feeling scared to go back home.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-that-was-an-insect-what-was-it/462327/7 "2008-09-06T16:32:14Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> In the Bay Area? Where? I never saw them in all my time living there, but now I’m feeling scared to go back home.
Well, by locally…
_I’ve_ seen them in Del Puerto Canyon, the other side of Altamont Pass. Which I guess isn’t _quite_ local per se. But a friend has found them at Briones Reservoir, so they are at least in the eastern counties.