Abedus sp. maturing molt

[Goliath]

Mine went through his final molt this week.
Mike

 

[Alex S.]

Beautiful specimen, Mike.

Alex S.

 

[Goliath]

Thanks Alex!
Mike

 

[Philth]

Nice. Is that commonly called a "toe biter"? I recently got a "water scorpion. Sorry im not familiar with the latin names yet, im just getting in to these guys. I havent gotten around to doing a search on them yet, but since im here, how do you know it matured ? Does it grow its "wings" on its final molt like a roach or cricket? :? thanx

 

[Goliath]

One name for them is toe biter, but that can refer to any of ther water bugs. When it matures it does grow wings, they lay flat on its back and can be hard to see. Water scorpions are very cool bugs too, you will like it.
Mike

 

[Alex S.]

There are a few common names used for the insects that make up the Heteropteran family Belostomatidae, including giant water bugs (most commonly used), toe-biters, electric-light bugs, and even giant water roaches (even though cockroaches and giant water bugs are not related in the least). Both waterscorpions (Heteroptera: Nepidae) and giant water bugs are within the group Nepomorpha, which contains all aquatic and some semi-aquatic hemipterans. The Belostomatidae and Nepidae are the two families that comprise the nepomorph superfamily Nepoidea. Some basic characteristics that distinguish giant water bugs from waterscorpions are that giant water bugs have retractile breathing siphons at the end of the abdomen, while waterscorpions have longer, non-retractile siphons. The two pairs of swimming legs of giant water bugs are also flattened (with the exception of the genus Limnogeton) and oar-like, while the two pairs of non-raptorial legs of waterscorpions are slender and designed more for crawling among aquatic vegetation.

Alex S.