Don't Go Chasing Water Bugs | Deep Look

Giant water bugs — aka "toe-biters" — pack one of the most painful bites of any insect. But they make the best dads ever. Rather than leaving the survival of his eggs to chance, dad will haul them around piggyback style for weeks, until they hatch right off his back.

DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

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This summer, as you cool your bare feet in a stream somewhere in California – or almost anywhere in the world, really – you might feel a painful nip. The menacing culprit: a giant water bug.

Lurking just below the surface of that flowing creek or refreshing pond, these bugs resemble enormous aquatic ticks, with googly eyes and praying mantis arms. And although they won’t seek you out for an attack, they also won’t hesitate to take a defensive bite if you get too close, earning them the nickname “toe-biters.”

They puncture the skin with dagger-like mouth parts and have a bite known as one of the most painful of any insect – sharp and stinging like a wasp’s. You may not even get a chance to spot the offending insect before it dashes off, but you’ll undoubtedly be left with an indelible impression. And a swollen, throbbing toe.

--- What do giant water bugs eat?
Giant water bugs are voracious predators that will take down any small animals they can subdue. They have a long needle-like mouth and their bite contains a cocktail of chemicals that paralyzes their prey and digests their tissues. Then the giant water bugs slurp up its meal. Giant water bugs hunt other insects, tadpoles and frogs, small fish, and even the occasional duckling.

--- How do giant water bugs breathe?
Giant water bugs spend their lives in freshwater, but they must return to the surface to breathe. Giant water bugs have two little air straps that protrude from their backside. The air straps work like a snorkel to pull air into a bubble trapped under their wings.

--- What do giant water bugs taste like?
In Southeast Asia giant water bugs are sometimes eaten as a regional delicacy. Like other arthropods, giant water bugs are said to taste a bit like shrimp with a slightly sweet flavor.

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[brooklynyte]

The most caring dad in the insect world!
Also:
The baby has to sneak away cause these dads are known to eat their young!

[satrickptar]

So basically, it's their mom who buys milk at the grocery.

[___myytimee]

To think that, the fathers spend alot of their effort caring for the eggs and giving them oxygen, and the baby nympths that hatch can just be eaten 💀

[al]

I forgot what it's name was but there's this species of cockroach that eats dead leaves or something. What's special about them is that both parents care for their little cockroach babies. Guarding them, and bringing them leaves for food for several months. Parental care as extensive as this in the insect world is just so fascinating and uncommon.

[maxamps]

these insect has a sting that's more potent than any bee that stung me before. but unlike bees the sting from it wont give you swelling. its just pure searing pain.

[ysph]

It all starts adding up near the end where you find out he's taking care of the eggs specifically because he wants to eat the contents. Very clever little bug.

[YNU]

Narrator: Caring and nurturing like this by a dad is almost unheard of.

Also Narrator: Giant water bug dads are fearsome predators that are known to eat their own babies.

(Words were cut short for convenience)

[cosmictsunami]

Me whole video-
2:55- whelp, reality just set back in.

[reionj]

They are the most responsible dads in the insect world, wow. Lesson learned, don't mess with water bugs. Thanks Deep Look.

[sticks_studiosHQ]

0:42 if only it was that easy to humans xd

[iamjustkiwi]

I've got one of these fellas living in my terrarium, they're about 2 years old now and they keep my guppy population under control, it's like a sea monster in the tank, they're so big!

Really cool seeing that they are amazing parents too

[TheNewton]

The layers of instincts for that species to continue is wild. Water music, post mating egg reception, oxygen management,

[ace-paidinfull]

Dont go chasing waterbugs
Please stick to the other bugs and insects your used to
We all know that the bugs are gona mate or do nothing at all
But i think the nymphs will grow fast🎵

[Brendonc]

I can't stomach bugs sometimes but I still watch I'm so effed up lol

[HiFiInsider]

I would love to learn the behind the scenes how these videos are made. incredible content.

[VanRukh]

The Water Bug: Proud owner of both #1 dad and worst dad mugs

[thewaywardpoet]

Only Deep Look can turn a story about a terrifying-looking bug into something heartwarming and, dare I say, endearing.

[sgh]

don't go chasing water bugs, please stick to the ants and the beetles that you're used to

[makeupdiaries]

What happens to the "eggshells" left on its back? Does they dissolve, or wear off?

[shashihnt]

Insects are getting more action than me 😂😂😂