May 2002
Homestead house

Giant Water Bug or Toe Biter.
Note the breathing apparatus at the posterior end.
These hemipterans are amush predators.  They wait motionless at the water's surface attached to a floating object or leaf
and snare insects, tadpoles, small fish, and even frogs with their raptorial front limbs.
JD and Jeff found out it was my birthday and took me to a local bar for dinner and pool.  When we got there I went to
Dennys across US1 to get a free meal (many Dennys do this).  The hostess said that her Dennys doesn't do this but as I
was leaving she wished me a "Happy Birthday".  I then went next store to a McDonald's and the cashier was more than
happy to let me go behind the counter and catch this big bug crawling behind her under the burger rack.