Not something I would guess at in a parking lot!

[Cigarman]

Found this gigantor waterbug flapping around on the tar here at work in Westbrook, Maine. I figured it was a cicada at first from the sheer size of the thing but then I saw the front grapplers and I knew it was definitely not a cicada. First one I ever found here and from the description I found I'm lucky it didnt get fussy with me. I stuffed it in my windbreaker and zipped it up so it wouldnt get away and it seemed to settle down as I was driving home. It didnt seem to care for tap water (only thing I had on hand) as opposed to a stream so I let it go outside on a tree.

 

[Galapoheros]

I think the interest in those has grown with some AB members in the last years or so. I saw my first dead one under a street light when I was around 5 years old. I couldn't believe it at the time and couldn't wait til I found my first one. Yeah, tap water is no good. Seems like it's getting worse and worse. I don't even like it. Nice to have running water of course. I use rainwater for all my critters. Cool find and thanks for the pics.

 

[arachnocat]

Those are so cool. We don't have the giant ones here, but we do have the giant water beetles. I found one in front of a store last summer and brought it home. I had it for a few days but it kept escaping it's tank. The only thing I had at the time was an old fish tank with some netting on the top. It chewed through the netting and was flying around my house so I figured the little guy was better off outdoors. I have a few smaller water bugs right now, they're really fun. I wish I could find a few beetles now that I have a better set up for them.

 

[beetleman]

those giant waterbugs are great:clap: i used to keep them aswell,i really love the giant diving beetles(dytiscus sp.)they can be kept together, and man when you put food in there,they go crazy like little piranhas w/legs.