Aquatic bugs, ever for sale?

Dhaynes

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
91
I've been wanting to get some. Either it be Ranatra, or abedus, Dytiscidae(sp?), so on and so forth. I know I've seen a few in the early days of my arachnid/bug obsession. But since then, I have seen none at all.
 

hydrophyte

Arachnoknight
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
180
I've been wanting to get some. Either it be Ranatra, or abedus, Dytiscidae(sp?), so on and so forth. I know I've seen a few in the early days of my arachnid/bug obsession. But since then, I have seen none at all.
Where do you live? If you have any kinds of ponds or lakes in your area you should be ale to catch stuff like that yourself, although it is getting late in the season. Water scorpions are often abundant in aquatic weeds near the shore. You could also invest in a portable black light and head out to the countryside and see what you can attract.
 

Dhaynes

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
91
I live in Colorado, the land of bipolar weather gods. "Today shall be a hundred degrees!" Three hours later "Blizzard!" I've seen a few boatmen when the canal was flooded, just across the street a few years ago, but nothing else.
 

zonbonzovi

Creeping beneath you
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
3,346
Not too sure about Abedus but I believe the rest are cosmopolitan in the US. I've caught Ranatra here lying still w/ catch cup and snorkel during the warmer months. Recently, some of us found Lethocerus and other assorted pond creatures were found under rocks near the shoreline. I've seen scads of Lethocerus in a FL Walmart parking lot. Dip netting when underwater plant growth is in full swing works, too.
 

jdl

Arachnosquire
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
95
Try Hatari Invertebrates in Portal AZ. I talked to Barney a week or so ago and if I remember right he said he had a pretty good supply of water bugs right now.
 

Obelisk

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
337
I would find water bugs in the ghost shrimp/guppy tanks of a certain pet store, which I still occasionally visit. I used to see ranatra, caddisfly larvae, baby crayfish, tadpoles, and native fish such as swamp darters and florida flagfish in there. Sadly, I rarely see that stuff in their feeder tanks now. Go around and ask different fish places if they ever get these "contaminants" in with their feeders. I'm sure they'll be glad to sell these things that most people probably wouldn't want.
 

catfishrod69

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
4,401
I just seen either some backswimmers or water boatmen in a cattle trough yesterday. Temps are getting down to 25 at night here.
 

Senses-Tingling

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
153
I am able to get Ranatra, Abedus, and Lethocerus during the spring, summer, and early fall seasons. Feel free to contact me during those months and I can get some for you. It can be a trade or a purchase.
 

beetleman

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
2,874
what about the giant diving beetles? dytiscus.....i believe they are up where you are:) hmmmm,wouldn't mind having afew of these beasts.
 

Shrike

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 8, 2006
Messages
1,598
You should check out bugsincyberspace. They sell a variety of aquatic insects.
 

bugmankeith

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 4, 2006
Messages
2,730
Wow. They've got the cheapest mantis oothecas I've seen. $6.50. They also say they can't ship waxworm larvae to OH. What's up with that?
They probably are highly invasive in your state, they don't ship animals where they could be invasive.
 

findi

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
698
Hi, Hatari Inverts as mentioned earlier is a great source; several species and good info provided by owner.
Here's an of mine on article on collecting/care of water scorpions; I have others on various aquatic insects if you need:
http://bitly.com/R7CmP1

Enjoy, beat, Frank
 

CyrusP

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Messages
6
Bump Bump Bump.

I've read through all the pages of this thread and checked with all the websites mentioned and no one seems to have any giant water bugs (belostoma) available :(. BusInCyberSpace is still out of stock. Anyone know of any other places? I might just have to go out into the ponds nearby and have a 'jump' at it. :)
 

shutout2000

Arachnoknight
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
162
Uh, in my area I could get all sorts of crazy aquatic insects. Didn't realize there was a market for them.
 

cimice

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Messages
3
Uh, in my area I could get all sorts of crazy aquatic insects. Didn't realize there was a market for them.
There definitely is a market for them, especially since I live nowhere near a body of water for miles, it's kind of hard to find these weird creatures. : )
 
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