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07-16-2017, 11:23 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
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Identify this huge bug? Ram River
Fishing below the falls on Saturday when my son started yelling and running downstream chasing something. This bug. Made me think of a cockroach! But it was about 2 1/2" long with big active legs. Anyone know what it is and something about it? Felt otherworldly!
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07-16-2017, 11:24 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh2fish
Fishing below the falls on Saturday when my son started yelling and running downstream chasing something. This bug. Made me think of a cockroach! But it was about 2 1/2" long with big active legs. Anyone know what it is and something about it? Felt otherworldly!
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And another pic 
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07-16-2017, 11:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh2fish
And another pic
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And another ...
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07-16-2017, 11:28 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 971
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That's called a "Giant Water Bug". Unoriginal name a know but it can give a nasty bite. Cool find
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07-16-2017, 11:29 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1
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does it have teeth
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07-16-2017, 11:37 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Okotoks
Posts: 3,033
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Looks like Filet Mignon for a big Bull Trout!
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07-16-2017, 11:44 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
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Thanks Passthru. Angus chased it because he wanted to catch it but really didn't want to pick it up in his hand! I can hardly say I blame him. Boring name but it's also known as "toe-biter", and you are right, nasty bite. Ram River seems to be the last place I would expect to find something like this.
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07-17-2017, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh2fish
Thanks Passthru. Angus chased it because he wanted to catch it but really didn't want to pick it up in his hand! I can hardly say I blame him. Boring name but it's also known as "toe-biter", and you are right, nasty bite. Ram River seems to be the last place I would expect to find something like this.
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For sure but it also says they are strong fliers so I imagine you could find them really anywhere in North America.
I know for me the creep factor would have been high.
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07-17-2017, 10:04 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,861
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My high school biology teacher was writing a thesis on these same beetles. I caught him three from a small pond. Ended up getting a good mark in that class!
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07-18-2017, 09:52 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,614
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They bite. We call em giant water boatman. They are bright green in our area till they mature. You will call them "dirty rotten #*!@#&*^#@!" if they give you a good pinch.
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07-18-2017, 10:06 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,524
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They aren't a beetle, they're part of the order Hemiptera. These are true bugs. I've never been bitten by one, but I want to uhhh... try being bitten by them to know what its like.
edit/addendum: has anyone cleaned a fish with one of these inside a fish's stomach?
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07-18-2017, 10:50 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,861
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyTheory
edit/addendum: has anyone cleaned a fish with one of these inside a fish's stomach?
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The bio teacher I had said that they actually would catch and eat smaller fish. I can't see why fish wouldn't eat them as well. I cleaned a couple pike this spring that were stuffed with dragonfly larvae and these guys live in the same type of environment.
SS
ETA: I found an interesting article on them if anyone wants a read. http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1...10)00039-6/pdf
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07-18-2017, 12:36 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
The bio teacher I had said that they actually would catch and eat smaller fish. I can't see why fish wouldn't eat them as well. I cleaned a couple pike this spring that were stuffed with dragonfly larvae and these guys live in the same type of environment.
SS
ETA: I found an interesting article on them if anyone wants a read. http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1...10)00039-6/pdf |
Good article. Now I've got that creepy feeling of something crawling on me...
Quote:
the intense pain experienced is related to the salivary
enzymatic action, which can liquefy tissues
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07-18-2017, 11:42 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: 204
Posts: 5,698
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Well, I guess I have to bring a shotgun next time I'm fishing out that way.
Would 00buck be a robust enough round to take one of those down if it was charging you?
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07-18-2017, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,861
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox
Well, I guess I have to bring a shotgun next time I'm fishing out that way.
Would 00buck be a robust enough round to take one of those down if it was charging you?
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Lol. Better use slugs.
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07-18-2017, 05:19 PM
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Suspended User
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Join Date: Nov 2008
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