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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae)
Photo#236672
Orange?! Giant Water Bug Nymph
Copyright © 2008 south12th.com

Orange?! Giant Water Bug Nymph
Mt. Hamilton, CA, Santa Clara County, California, USA
October 27, 2008
Size: Approx. 30mm
Based on searching here on in the bugguide, it appears this is a Giant Water Bug Nymph (Belostomatidae). Comparing pics on the site with other pics I have of other Giant Water Bugs in the same stream from other days, I'm guessing its genus Belostoma but I'll leave that for another time especially as the info here says they are in the eastern 2/3rds of the US and we're in CA (NWF Insect book I have says they can be here tho - hmmm).

What really has me wondering tho... what's up with the color??? Has anyone else seen a florescent orange one of these? I didn't see anything else like it in the pictures on the site. The thing practically glowed. It made me recall the old Gary Larson Farside cartoon with the two deer. One has a bullseye on his side. The other says, "Bummer of a birthmark." I've got to think this would be a bummer of a mutation to be born with.
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Contributed by Marianne on 28 October, 2008 - 11:31am
Last updated 30 October, 2008 - 1:15pm

Insects and others don't necessarily see the way we do.
For instance, butterflies can see infra-red, but lack a color or two from our visible spectrum. I've seen spiders on contrasting color flowers that would seem to make them stand out, while they're eagerly noshing on some hapless fly or bee that wasn't aware of their presence.
… Ron Hemberger, 28 October, 2008 - 11:58am login or register to post comments

 
Color
Of the types of arthropods that differentiate colors, I don’t know of any that can see colors into the orange/red end of the color spectrum. I’ve never seen a belostomatid this color- very cool.
… John Carlson, 28 October, 2008 - 11:09pm login or register to post comments

Hmmm...
Perhaps it's freshly molted? If so, it would regain its normal coloration soon enough.
… Carmen Champagne, 28 October, 2008 - 11:43am login or register to post comments

 
Second...
...
… Jonas Insinga, 28 October, 2008 - 5:39pm login or register to post comments

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