Where can I find giant water bugs in Ontario?

[MikeYPG1337]

Hi everyone, recently I've been very fascinated by giant water bugs and am wondering where I can catch them? I can't find any maps detailing their distribution/habitats and the only info I can find is that they like to hold onto plants that protrude from the water close to the bank so they can stick their breathing tube out of the water.

I am only doing this to keep them as pets as I find them very fascinating, any help / advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Mike

 

[Speg]

During the rainy season here in FL they're easily found... I believe you could even search for a news story where about six years ago they were everywhere in the Elfers area of Florida. It was terrible... like a plague from the Bible. They had pictures where you couldn't even see entire parking lots due to the giant water bug.

They freak me out...lol and they have a painful bite...

Good luck in your quest! If you need to wait, I'll be able to find you some in about a month

 

[MikeYPG1337]

During the rainy season here in FL they're easily found... I believe you could even search for a news story where about six years ago they were everywhere in the Elfers area of Florida. It was terrible... like a plague from the Bible. They had pictures where you couldn't even see entire parking lots due to the giant water bug.

They freak me out...lol and they have a painful bite...

Good luck in your quest! If you need to wait, I'll be able to find you some in about a month

Thanks for the info! It is actually becoming very wet here, winter just ended and temps are finally hitting the 80s at times, last 2 days have been rain and storms so maybe tonight I will go out and search with a head lamp and a lamp sitting on the edge of the water. I have read light attracts them? so going to try that.

And if all else fails yes I'll have to get some off you because I can't find them anywhere except trying outside lol

 

[Godzillaalienfan1979]

try looking inside brookes, ponds, streams, etc etc etc. They're a lot rarer than other water bugs, but just keep trying! You'll find some...eventually hahaha. I still haven't found any myself lmao.

 

[MikeYPG1337]

try looking inside brookes, ponds, streams, etc etc etc. They're a lot rarer than other water bugs, but just keep trying! You'll find some...eventually hahaha. I still haven't found any myself lmao.

Thanks for the hints and tips! Thinking about it now, there are little streams all around my house to lead to a pond, definitely going to check that out! Tomorrow I am planning to bring my daughter and 2 of her friends for a nature walk, bug hunt and then some microscope fun with pond water, so hopefully I will find one then! lol

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

They're attracted to lights, and based on when I find them in Massachusetts this should be the right time of year (assuming they occur in Ontario.) Gas stations and other brightly- lit places are good places to look, or you could set up a light trap.

If you seek them out in aquatic habitats, the best kind are ponds and swamps that are permanent bodies of water but have few large fish. Lilypads are a good indicator of this sort of habitat.