WTF is this? Nightmare Bug?

[naamanf]

Okay Kansas seems to have a pretty diverse collection of bugs. I almost feeling like I am living in the south with the high temps and humidity. Well today I saw this bug while pumping gas and I don't think I will ever be able to sleep the same. It would have been okay if it was an average size bug but this monster was about five inches long. No idea what it is but I hope I never see one again.

Sleep tight.

[DigiPete]

nasty f*cker

[Icarium]

Holy fuck.. that looks ginormous.. how big is that shit?

Wait but arent you used to defeating camel spiders and shit though?

[naamanf]

Holy fuck.. that looks ginormous.. how big is that shit?

Wait but arent you used to defeating camel spiders and shit though?

I would say it was 5" in length. I was tempted to put my hand next to it for comparison but didn't want to wake it and incur it's wrath.

I would much rather deal with a camel spider than this thing. Camels spiders don't fly.

[Icarium]

Holy shit 5 inches and flies? I hope those don't swarm. I am very glad you didn't incur its wrath.

[naamanf]

Yahtze!

Details of the Dobsonfly

[Icarium]

Damn I wonder how big the females get.. like a 3-5 inch flying insect with a painful bite? Not acceptable.

[naamanf]

I agree. I might have to make plans for a screening in porch. Step one is using CFLs on the outside of the house so I don't attract them.

[Icarium]

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonfly]Dobsonfly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Damn the females get just as big as the males... and even the larva have some sort of horrible painful bite and get 2-3 inches long. Beware going into the water sir!

[Dusty Chalk]

Corydalus cornutus

Hmph.

"...that's some good eatin'."

[Fungi]

The larvae are called fucking hellgrammites. I hope I never have to see one in my lifetime.

[boomana]

Not only ugly, but this: "They are not poisonous, but possess an irritating, foul-smelling anal spray as a last-ditch defense."

Thank goodness we've only snakes, alligators, and palmetto bugs around here....oh....and ants. Lots and lots of freaking ants.

[DigiPete]

the desert seems like paradise in comparison...

[Pars]

From article:

North American reach includes (may not be limited to):

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida ,

[Augsburger]

I think you should mount a 500w spotlight on the edge of your property with a Tesla coil built out of broken Singlepower Extreme parts. The fourth of July is just around the corner you know.

[Icarium]

California wtf? I never done seen that shit. Never seen anything better than like 2 inches.

[DigiPete]

never seen that here in the desert either, and I hope I never do...

[boomana]

Thanks, Pars. I'll sleep well tonight

[xand1x]

I feel even safer to live in Canada after reading this

[Asr]

ZOMG that is the nastiest, freakiest monster bug I've ever seen! I've never seen one in Colorado and if I do, I'll run screaming like a little girl!

/covers eyes and plans to immediately move to Antarctica

I'm sure you'll be packing a shotgun at all times now just in case one of those ever flies at you...

[Deadneddz]

"This is a giant water bug, the largest bug in the United States, and one of the largest INSECT in the United states. It is often confused for a cockroach, but beware. Unlike the cockroach, this insect is a vicious predator with a nasty bite. Its natural habitat is in the water, but they migrate at night to find new ponds. And like other flying insects, they often get attracted to the lights on your front porch. Be careful about disposing of dead specimens that you find. When stranded out of water, they often minimize their motions and end up looking dead. Many people have picked up seemingly dead water bugs, only to have it "come alive" and bite them."

Or probably even worse, can you imagine if you saw an earwig this big squirming around? The tiny ones scare the shit outta me already.

[riceboy]

Damn that is a big bug and now more bug pictures. I'm glad they aren't here. I agree with Icarium. I never saw anything bigger than 2 inches when I was in Northern Cal.

[Icarium]

I bet hawaii has some fucked up bugs too.. man that giant water bug is not cool.. aren't like the most gigantic bugs supposed to be like all friendly and harmless...

[riceboy]

I bet hawaii has some fucked up bugs too.. man that giant water bug is not cool.. aren't like the most gigantic bugs supposed to be like all friendly and harmless...

Nah. We only have big cockroaches that like to fly at you. Those things are crazy for some reason. We have centipedes and big cane spiders. Twice I found some pretty big centipedes in the house and killed them immediately. Those damn things move pretty darn quick too. I've seen cane spiders in our home too. Beside the bugs we got a lot of geckos (Geico) . Those things are super quick.

Cane spider

Gecko

Our roaches that like to fly at you

[dsavitsk]

the desert seems like paradise in comparison...

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk]Tarantula hawk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

"the sting, particularly of Pepsis formosa, is among the most painful of any insect. Commenting on his own experience, one researcher described the pain as "