Yeah man ! Been bitten by both having them in a freshwater aquarium. The giant water bug or toe biter is definitely the worst! A very cool collaboration! U guys rock!
I kept one in a freshwater aquarium, for maybe 2 days. Then it decided that the entire house was its home I put it back on day 3 and on day4. Day 5, gone.
Joe Rogan:If they were any bigger we would have to worrie. Start throwing weight ratios around and things get scary. An [ant] the size of a Frenchy would tear almost anything apart with ease. It's chitin would be resistant to smallarms fire. with acitic blood.. crawling on the walls hissing like some kind of adorable mini xenomorph 😀 😊
I've caught tons of giant waterbugs in Michigan swamps. The biggest ones though I've found under the lights in supermarket parking lots. I never knew about the severity of their bite when I was younger, but you don't need a warning to keep your fingers away from anything with big pointy graspers that pulls stuff toward it's face.
I just looked through the comments to see if someone else said this. We definitely have a ton of those toe biters in Michigan! I live in the U.P. and they're in almost every river and creek up here!
"Even in the chilly air the forest is alive with a symphony of disembodied calls, from the dark." Just thought you should be recognized for that line, Spencer.
Was at an outdoor gala, black tie event, and saw one on a step. About. 2.5" long. Excitedly went over and grabbed it; very strong but allowed me to carry him to the nearby pond. Wife said I looked like a little kid with amazement. Fun fact, they also can fly a bit. Glad this one chose not to.
The Water scorpion was so small and blended right in! Wow! You got some good eyes! I've never heard of a Toe biter so I found that so interesting and fun to learn about!! Thanks for this amazing video! I always learn something new in each video!
I wouldn't expect Spencer to let that waterbug bite him but Jack, on the other hand... I don't think we have a video of Jack temporarily sacrificing his well-being by allowing us to watch a "toe biter" chew on one of his appendages. So, Jack... you up for taking another one for the team, buddy? I think I speak for the vast majority when I say we would greatly appreciate it! That being said, you two make a superb scary-critter-hunting duo together! Really enjoy watching you guys work together. Keep up the great work, fellas -- and, as always, thank you for sharing!
These things are the only thing that prevent me from brazenly walking around creek systems barefoot, I would rather get bit by pretty much any other insect or arachnid than this monster. Great video, so many cool finds and it's always fun to see Jack make a guest appearance!
Had a Eastern Toe Biter fly into my work a few years ago. Probably 3 inches longs very cool looking. I use to see water scorpions in the feeder fish tanks once in a while at the pet store I worked in.
So freaky but so awesome!! I’m super jealous… and out of curiosity, what’s the venom of these guys like? I’ve heard from *certain people* that it’s insanely bad, and others that it’s quite mild… what is your opinion on this?
I would actually imagine it's quite painful. Even Jack admits the wheel bug was one of the few that really impressed him, and this would be like a wheel bug on steroids.
Wow, my two favorite people from my two favorite channels on TH-cam, together. That's awesome! Spencer, you need to get some boots like Jack, so you don't get bit by poisonous snakes when you're wearing shorts.
Ok I’m probably going to have multiple comments on this one, this is the first- jack and Spence back together again? The critters don’t stand a chance lol❤
Multiple comments always welcome! Yup had a great outing with Jack back in November, got a few more awesome catches for you that’ll be coming out over the course of the next couple months!
Thank you so much! I love it. Even when it’s hard (this was a hard week lol), I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. Love having you along for the journey!
Oh I bet! They definitely get huge, this one was still a nymph, one or two molts before adulthood, but was the only one we were able to snag. And yep you’re right! Water striders are little biters themselves too!
Good evening Spencer and Jack loved this video me and my son will be looking for water insects next week for our channel 😊 you guys are awesome big fan from England as you know 😊 keep up the amazing work keep liking and subscribing to Spencer and Jack
You’ve been asking, glad I could finally deliver! It’s another one of those finds that while not rare, since they’ve evaded me forever it was like the culmination of years of work finally getting to see one.
I have a fear of toe biters. Never came across one, but I definitely don't want to. I was telling you that I handled a spider a while back, and it was really thanks to you getting me over some of my crippling arachnophobia. Well, it was a yellow sac spider, and apparently I'm lucky I didn't get bit. I didn't know they supposedly are fairly aggressive, have been known to bite humans for no reason, and their venom is enough to be confused with brown recluse bites, leaving up to a 10 cm. (?) bite wound. WOW! I'm glad I didn't know that BEFORE I handled it removing it from the house! Great video, and Jack is starting to grow on me.
Yup these guys and wheel bugs are no joke, people sleep on them way too much. That being said, aggression is definitely overstated, this guy had no interest in us whatsoever. So glad you enjoyed man! And good to hear you're liking Jack 😂 we actually might have another collaborative project (not on this channel) starting later this year!)
Yellow sac spider could be a lot of species. In the usa, both known arent that aggressive - with the exception of females guarding an egg sac. The American ones also have zero confirmed bites that led to anything problematic, the yellosac spider that lives in the hotter places in eastern Europe and now is moving with climate change upwards in Germany, C.punctorium can be very aggressive if you touch her egg sacks. But these species live in high grass, like wild fields, sandy ground, not in houses unlike C.mildei and you avoid getting bit (reportedly the pain level of a yellow jacket wasp, one confirmed case led to a small local necrosis but its unclear if that was the venom or an unlucky superinfections of that wound) I don't know about the other species but C.punctorium is the only real medically significant spider here and not an issue. I did found a male near my flat bc it was freezing and the little dummy staid on the metal blinds. I got him inside and warmed him up slowly and let him out when it got warmer over the day. I recommend watching the "these are the spiders in your house" episode of Travis Mc Elroy that talks about it and how well.. they're not really aggressive unless you harass em for quite a while. Just use a cup.
@@a_lethe_ion I've seen that Travis McElroy video! I thought maybe as long as I didn't harass them with a wedge of parmesan cheese, I'd be all right! I remember his video not really saying anything about being terribly aggressive, or having medically significant venom. So, it figures that when I google "yellow sac spider", I see all that doom and gloom. After reading your response, I went to find the source I had read, but instead was greeted with headings saying "There's a lot of misinformation about yellow sac spiders. It just shows I should research things a little more before I go with a knee-jerk reaction. Thanks for responding. Spencer's got a great channel, and it looks like that includes great viewers and commenters, too.
@@skeeter197140 aye, I think they're just very cute and I was a bit confused reading that America considered them dangerous when I cant even remember being warned about our C.punctorium, whose females do get aggressive once they constructed their brooding cocoon around their eggs. The German name, Ammen dornfinger is a testament to that- amme is someone who professionally mothers children, dornfinger is just the translation of the species name Cheiraecanthium(i hope thats not too typo-filled. I type on mobile. ) Its like thorn/tooth-foot, describes the leg structure of the species. But yeah Travis shows C.punctorium once, and that alone has far bigger pokey bits @skeeter197140 aye, I think they're just very cute and I was a bit confused reading that America considered them dangerous when I cant even remember being warned about our C.punctorium, whose females do get aggressive once they constructed their brooding cocoon around their eggs. The German name, Ammen dornfinger is a testament to that- amme is someone who professionally mothers children, dornfinger is just the translation of the species name Cheiraecanthium(i hope thats not too typo-filled. I type on mobile. ) Its like thorn/tooth-foot, describes the leg structure of the species. But yeah Travis shows C.punctorium once, and that alone has far bigger pokey bits so it makes sense that bite hurts more. The males seem like very relaxed, the one i had was very polite. Also slower than the also unfairly maligned hobo spider
I live in southern Indiana. The first time I ever saw,"The Toe-biter". Was in the parking lot of the Dollar Store. It lunged at me, as I walked by it! This thing was crazy aggressive! I had no idea at the time. That I was looking at the insect. With the 4th most painful bite, in the world! It had been raining really hard for a day or so. So I'm thinking that it must have come from the drainage ditch, flooding the parking lot. On the way out of the store, I had to show it to my girlfriend. It had been squished by some type of vehicle or another! A couple of days later. I started trying to figure out, what it was. That was trying to kill me, in the $ store parking lot. Once I figured it out! I was shocked! Anyways, another stellar video my man! Be safe out there! You know that, it's wild! 💯
Saw one of these in Thailand. For some reason it was in a pool. In Thailand they eat these and are sold as street food. My brother ate A LOT (with other bugs too) and later he started throwing up because he ate a crud ton of bugs.
Your channel is so sick man. Just saw your post. It's good to see you're making a conscious effort to take care of yourself and take a step back. I think that's very important and I can't wait to see where you go from here! :) Much love from the U.P. of Michigan!
I live in Salt Lake City Utah and had a Giant one of these come flying into my garage one night. It was just under 2” long and almost sounded like a rock hitting the metal rack it flew into.
Wow this was a super neat video! I had no idea some of these guys existed, and I'm glad to now know otherwise. A lot of my research involved creatures that survive under water, but mostly in extreme environments like the Arctic. It's cool to learn about swamp creatures, and bugs in general. I like the diversifying of your channel, and when you have guests like Jack. I laughed when he said "that's not going to be on the test, forget about it!" Ironically something I said in my evolution class for some stuff lol. Anyway, keep up the great work! Excited for your next video, especially with the hidden references/jokes ;)
I'll never forget finding one of those toe biters in a mud puddle when I was a kid and I picked it up only to have it clamp down on my finger and bit me good. It definitely isn't a bug you want to take a bite from.
SPENCER THE COMMENCER OF LEARNING! whats good buddy! great video as usual, love the collab, wishing all the best for ya in 2024. keep it going dude, kids love the videos and youre wholesome af. cheers!!
Saw one of the baddies all the way up in Michigan go figure. It was dead, but I brought it inside and scared the hell out of people with it. Looked them up later and learned of the moniker 'Toe Bitter". Ouch, I can only imagine how that would hurt haha.
I watch both of you guy’s channels and love them both! I’m glad you guys help each other out with videos. The content you both create is always really informative and awesome! Have you guys ever thought about creating another channel involving both of you together creating content, so you’d have both your own and one that’s a collaboration channel?
Funny you should suggest a collaboration channel. We are actually in the planning phase of something like that, tentatively beginning production in the second half of the year!
I stopped getting notifications and we were a bit concerned, but found your channel and yes I am still subbed to your channel! I have no idea why no notifications I was afraid something had happened after you were bitten by that spider(that was venomous)! Glad all is ok!!!!Patricia Gambino Harrington
TH-cam has been SUPER weird this last year about that. I’m gonna start advertising my posting schedule a bit more rigorously for a while now, cause it seems like the videos aren’t getting pushed out to you and many other subscribers! Starting this Saturday, every week at 3PM eastern time new videos are going up- so if TH-cam continues to be weird, not to worry! There’ll be a video up there for ya right on schedule. Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention, I’ll make a post soon as well.
Found one of these once on my local lake. Brother brought it to me on a pencil. We held a feather up to it and it lashed out hard trying to bite it. It was one of the coolest moments of my life. I free handled it. Afterwards I looked it up and was shocked to find out what it was. Just thankful I didn't get bit!
The pickerel might actually be a redfin or grass pickerel; especially for where it was found. They’re the smallest of the family and have those gorgeous orange fins
Yaaay Hemiptera! I do really like the insects here. The diving beetle and the Toe Biter are in my opinion quite cute, but they are formidable, and I would NOT want to be bitten by that thing. It's fascinating that spiders arachnids are the go to for venomous arthropods, but there are so many critters that are venomous, even these otherwise unassuming creatures. They are forces of nature in their ecosystem and they're so gnarly. It's also always fun to be like "well, bugs don't encompass all insects but all bugs are insects" Also it must have been difficult to film at points with Jack's eccentric personality. Two great wildlife educators in one. Great video!
Always a blast to film with Jack! Never a dull moment for sure. And he has unparalleled expertise on a lot of these creatures, often times stuff that I didn't even know. Makes for great teamwork in the field!
Funny thing about these is that like… I know they have an immensely painful bite but they don’t really look all that scary to me. They just look like if a leaf wanted to be the TBH creature/I Am Looking meme. Funny little guys.
I had one land on me while I was watching a local team host the state football championship few years back. Had never seen or been aware of these beetles until then. Freaked me out at first. Did not know they flew either.
Insects have no chill or manners... I love spiders they're charming and won't crawl in your mouth while you're sleeping like literally any insect wouldm.. PS thank you for clearing up what a bug actually is i learnt something today that I didn't know yesterday 😊
65 years ago, all we had to do to see Toe Biters was to leave the kid pool full of water over night and the next day there would be one or more of those bugs in the pool.
If I am remembering real life and not remembering a dream those water boatmen can fly also, I seem to remember watching them fly into our pool and immediately dive and swim the moment they hit the water.
And that is a little one. The biggest one I have found was almost 3in long and a good inch wide. We have found them any where there is moving fresh water, even in my subdivision.
Figures the first freakish creature you found in a Florida swamp is Jack. While perhaps not quite as grotesque as some of the alien-looking arthropods you’ve found, he’s definitely a bizarre find. And he was hanging out out with a toe-biter! But do people really push back on toe-biters being venomous? If someone doubts it, I challenge them to let one bite you. You’ll understand the venom then…
oh interesting, are giant waterbugs rare around where you live? here in michigan we get a ton of them. my buddy took aquatic ent and he caught 60 of them over the summer
They’re not necessarily rare but they’re one of those things that have just evaded me for forever. Like walkingsticks. I almost never see those either and it’s not just due to their camouflage 😂
I'm waiting for you to have William of "William's Wild World of Waffles" on your show as you two seek out the waffle-backed Yellow-bellied Mugschlupper.
I see those in my area of Texas once in a while, American Cockroaches are extremely common in this area and I got freaked out when I first saw a water bug, they look like roaches that lift.
I have seen quite a few water scorpions and some smaller species of water bugs i even saw a water scorpion chowing down on a small fish but i have yet to find a giant water bug or another slug hunter in the wild tho slug hunters are quite colorful
Do these guys get pretty big? Because I think I saw one about 3 times as big as the one you held. It wasn't in water though. I work nights and it showed up on the grounds where I patrol and it was, I dunno, pulsating? Weird. Haha
Thats the smallest toe biter ive ever seen! No Offence its actually impressive to me as im raising them as pets and they only stay that size for like 2 weeks also congrats on seeing one!
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrghh nope nope nope just noooope.. I'm so glad I'm a scaffolder I'd much rather fall several stories than have one of those toe biters anywhere Near me 😂
Those are nothing compared to what's currently living inside of me . Imagine bug with all of its legs by its adomine , the adomine is long with the end tucking under it slightly . Beautiful golden brownish colour on one side and a dull white colour on the other side . The baby's are white and long with legs all the way along it on both sides ,iv also seen them in black and I think they maybe capable of camouflaging its self . The baby's roll up into a ball and look and feel like fine sand paper grit . My hair is full of them , they not only breed in my body but also on my head . Alot of the older ones pile under the skin on my head and stretch it to as thin as they possibly can , they then start send lava through , its painfull and feels like a burning sensation. No headachs , just burning sensation which can be very painful at times . They do not hurt me intentionally and don't bite me on the inside so long as I have food in my stomach, if I don't eat they start biting me . They live on what I eat on my body fat . I'm healthy only the symptoms I display says I have diabetes even though all of my diabetes tests have come back clear. I can't get help from doctors because they say it's scientifically impossible for something like I'm describing to happen inside of the human body . No xrays , no ultra sounds , just a couple of blood tests then your crazy go to mental health. I did and did their medication for the specified time period , didn't change any thing. Right now some ate moving through my chest area, it feels like a vibration moving through me , that's the closest I can get to explain what it feels . Yes it scears and freaks the shit out of me when they move enmass .
We don't tend to use the word " bug" outside of bedbugs as we see them all as the insects they are, in Britain that is. Ok occasionally you will hear it but its not like used as much as you guys use it. If we are speaking about bugs its generally listening devices. We would tend to call hemineptera just that.
2:12 PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLES AAAAAAAAAAA I LOVE THEM SOOOOOOO MUCH I LOVE PICKING THEM UP THEY'RE SO CUTE EVEN IF THEY CAN BITE! You just gotta be calm and gentle with them, that's all. Don't just grab em. Stick your hands in the water and let em crawl on you. I wonder what that hole looking thing is at 2:47 on it's rear? LOOK AT THAT PRECIOUS LITTLE FACE AT 2:56 AWWWWWWWW. 4:16 LOOK GARY THERE I AM. 4:57 I screamed in excitement. They're so goofy looking for a hemipteran, crazy that they're so thin. Especially since their closest relative is FAT. 7:16 the creepy atmosphere is definitely the appeal, yessir. 8:07 LOOK AT MY TINY MAN. He's flexing his muscles. That's tiny for a toebiter honestly. The ones I saw here in Mississippi are HUGE. 8:11 just look at that goofy ass face, it's so adorable. They're pretty chill ironically, there's a video online that shows that they're smart enough to know somebody swirling their fingers in water isn't food (I'd share for TH-cam will report my comment as spam). They usually fly towards you to get you away and to escape. You have to be extremely stupid to get one to bite while holding it. They seem to not care whatsoever if they crawl on to you instead of the other way around. 9:10 cicadas are our other largest true bugs in North America. I've seen some Megatibicen grossa that could rival some toebiters in size. 9:50 it's more or less venomous. It's am enzyme they inject into prey which is basically the same thing as venom. The only debate is a technicality, not on its actual functionality. It definitely does the same damage as any neurotoxic venom lol. 10:23 funny, this is completely normal for carnivorous hemipterans, all of them. But it's not really that scary since we know they HAVE to liquify muscle in order to eat it. But when somebody says that about spiders and wasps or something, it just feels a little.......scary. Like they have actual mouthpieces that can chew on food. So why liquify it? Obviously it's not actually evil or anything, but I do find it hilarious that my brain (and probably others) have totally different opinions on a hemipteran liquifying prey compared to other predatory arthropods. 10:43 how could you hate that face though, it's so precious. Great video Spencer. You did toebiters justice, no fear-mongering or anything. I'd love to send you that video about the toebiter refusing to bite a human finger, any way I can send it to you?
Over my lifetime I've been bitten by the "love-bug," twice, both ended in disaster, when ever I'm married I have no money when I'm single I'm "loaded!" I have been bitten by "Whirley-Gigs, itchy;- at Lake Geneva WI. Giant Water Bugs Yuck!
Yeah man ! Been bitten by both having them in a freshwater aquarium. The giant water bug or toe biter is definitely the worst! A very cool collaboration! U guys rock!
They're the best, I love em
I kept one in a freshwater aquarium, for maybe 2 days. Then it decided that the entire house was its home I put it back on day 3 and on day4. Day 5, gone.
Why would you want such a beast in your tank. It’s not like it’s pretty or cool to look at like a lion fish.
It’s just ugly and wants to bite you.
Joe Rogan:If they were any bigger we would have to worrie.
Start throwing weight ratios around and things get scary.
An [ant] the size of a Frenchy would tear almost anything apart with ease. It's chitin would be resistant to smallarms fire. with acitic blood..
crawling on the walls hissing like some kind of adorable mini xenomorph 😀 😊
I've caught tons of giant waterbugs in Michigan swamps. The biggest ones though I've found under the lights in supermarket parking lots. I never knew about the severity of their bite when I was younger, but you don't need a warning to keep your fingers away from anything with big pointy graspers that pulls stuff toward it's face.
I just looked through the comments to see if someone else said this. We definitely have a ton of those toe biters in Michigan! I live in the U.P. and they're in almost every river and creek up here!
We have smaller diving beetles in Louisiana and growing up we always called them watermelon seed bugs because they look exactly like the seeds.
Im sure you have the big ones too I found a big diving beetle in Canada and a water bug too
"Even in the chilly air the forest is alive with a symphony of disembodied calls, from the dark." Just thought you should be recognized for that line, Spencer.
I'm glad you enjoyed that one! Love getting creative with the writing on the narrations sometimes 😂
You ever thought about writing lyrics for a metal band Spencer? 🤘
Was at an outdoor gala, black tie event, and saw one on a step. About. 2.5" long. Excitedly went over and grabbed it; very strong but allowed me to carry him to the nearby pond.
Wife said I looked like a little kid with amazement.
Fun fact, they also can fly a bit. Glad this one chose not to.
They sure can fly! I’ve never seen one before this but I’ve heard the best way to study them is at gas station lights 😂 they swarm in the summer
The Water scorpion was so small and blended right in! Wow! You got some good eyes!
I've never heard of a Toe biter so I found that so interesting and fun to learn about!! Thanks for this amazing video! I always learn something new in each video!
I wouldn't expect Spencer to let that waterbug bite him but Jack, on the other hand... I don't think we have a video of Jack temporarily sacrificing his well-being by allowing us to watch a "toe biter" chew on one of his appendages. So, Jack... you up for taking another one for the team, buddy? I think I speak for the vast majority when I say we would greatly appreciate it! That being said, you two make a superb scary-critter-hunting duo together! Really enjoy watching you guys work together. Keep up the great work, fellas -- and, as always, thank you for sharing!
These things are the only thing that prevent me from brazenly walking around creek systems barefoot, I would rather get bit by pretty much any other insect or arachnid than this monster. Great video, so many cool finds and it's always fun to see Jack make a guest appearance!
Had a Eastern Toe Biter fly into my work a few years ago. Probably 3 inches longs very cool looking. I use to see water scorpions in the feeder fish tanks once in a while at the pet store I worked in.
So freaky but so awesome!! I’m super jealous… and out of curiosity, what’s the venom of these guys like? I’ve heard from *certain people* that it’s insanely bad, and others that it’s quite mild… what is your opinion on this?
I would actually imagine it's quite painful. Even Jack admits the wheel bug was one of the few that really impressed him, and this would be like a wheel bug on steroids.
@@MyWildBackyard Ah interesting!!
Wow, my two favorite people from my two favorite channels on TH-cam, together. That's awesome! Spencer, you need to get some boots like Jack, so you don't get bit by poisonous snakes when you're wearing shorts.
Ok I’m probably going to have multiple comments on this one, this is the first- jack and Spence back together again? The critters don’t stand a chance lol❤
Multiple comments always welcome! Yup had a great outing with Jack back in November, got a few more awesome catches for you that’ll be coming out over the course of the next couple months!
Spencer, you're so damn good at what you do and are doing!! Great collab 😁
Thank you so much! I love it. Even when it’s hard (this was a hard week lol), I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. Love having you along for the journey!
8:26 Get bit! Get bit! 😅
😂😂
I caught a much bigger giant toe biter in the upper Deschutes river. Pretty scary looking bug. Also learned first hand that water striders bite.
Oh I bet! They definitely get huge, this one was still a nymph, one or two molts before adulthood, but was the only one we were able to snag. And yep you’re right! Water striders are little biters themselves too!
Fascinating, what lurks in the shadows of nature.
Really interesting bugs and insects.
My favorites! Working on more of the Secret Worlds videos that’ll cover more of this as well this year!
@@MyWildBackyard Looking forward to it.
You’re so lucky to have found a live one!
I’ve found a few dead individuals, all in very unexpected places, but the living animals remain elusive.
Good evening Spencer and Jack loved this video me and my son will be looking for water insects next week for our channel 😊 you guys are awesome big fan from England as you know 😊 keep up the amazing work keep liking and subscribing to Spencer and Jack
Finally! "A big fat toebiter". Ha ha! Those things are crazy. It would make a great boss in a video game. Love your episodes with aquatic insects. 👍
You’ve been asking, glad I could finally deliver! It’s another one of those finds that while not rare, since they’ve evaded me forever it was like the culmination of years of work finally getting to see one.
I have a fear of toe biters. Never came across one, but I definitely don't want to. I was telling you that I handled a spider a while back, and it was really thanks to you getting me over some of my crippling arachnophobia. Well, it was a yellow sac spider, and apparently I'm lucky I didn't get bit. I didn't know they supposedly are fairly aggressive, have been known to bite humans for no reason, and their venom is enough to be confused with brown recluse bites, leaving up to a 10 cm. (?) bite wound. WOW! I'm glad I didn't know that BEFORE I handled it removing it from the house! Great video, and Jack is starting to grow on me.
Yup these guys and wheel bugs are no joke, people sleep on them way too much. That being said, aggression is definitely overstated, this guy had no interest in us whatsoever. So glad you enjoyed man! And good to hear you're liking Jack 😂 we actually might have another collaborative project (not on this channel) starting later this year!)
Yellow sac spider could be a lot of species. In the usa, both known arent that aggressive - with the exception of females guarding an egg sac.
The American ones also have zero confirmed bites that led to anything problematic, the yellosac spider that lives in the hotter places in eastern Europe and now is moving with climate change upwards in Germany, C.punctorium can be very aggressive if you touch her egg sacks.
But these species live in high grass, like wild fields, sandy ground, not in houses unlike C.mildei and you avoid getting bit (reportedly the pain level of a yellow jacket wasp, one confirmed case led to a small local necrosis but its unclear if that was the venom or an unlucky superinfections of that wound)
I don't know about the other species but C.punctorium is the only real medically significant spider here and not an issue.
I did found a male near my flat bc it was freezing and the little dummy staid on the metal blinds. I got him inside and warmed him up slowly and let him out when it got warmer over the day.
I recommend watching the "these are the spiders in your house" episode of Travis Mc Elroy that talks about it and how well.. they're not really aggressive unless you harass em for quite a while.
Just use a cup.
@@a_lethe_ion I've seen that Travis McElroy video! I thought maybe as long as I didn't harass them with a wedge of parmesan cheese, I'd be all right! I remember his video not really saying anything about being terribly aggressive, or having medically significant venom. So, it figures that when I google "yellow sac spider", I see all that doom and gloom. After reading your response, I went to find the source I had read, but instead was greeted with headings saying "There's a lot of misinformation about yellow sac spiders. It just shows I should research things a little more before I go with a knee-jerk reaction. Thanks for responding. Spencer's got a great channel, and it looks like that includes great viewers and commenters, too.
@@skeeter197140 aye, I think they're just very cute and I was a bit confused reading that America considered them dangerous when I cant even remember being warned about our C.punctorium, whose females do get aggressive once they constructed their brooding cocoon around their eggs.
The German name, Ammen dornfinger is a testament to that- amme is someone who professionally mothers children, dornfinger is just the translation of the species name Cheiraecanthium(i hope thats not too typo-filled. I type on mobile. ) Its like thorn/tooth-foot, describes the leg structure of the species.
But yeah Travis shows C.punctorium once, and that alone has far bigger pokey bits
@skeeter197140 aye, I think they're just very cute and I was a bit confused reading that America considered them dangerous when I cant even remember being warned about our C.punctorium, whose females do get aggressive once they constructed their brooding cocoon around their eggs.
The German name, Ammen dornfinger is a testament to that- amme is someone who professionally mothers children, dornfinger is just the translation of the species name Cheiraecanthium(i hope thats not too typo-filled. I type on mobile. ) Its like thorn/tooth-foot, describes the leg structure of the species.
But yeah Travis shows C.punctorium once, and that alone has far bigger pokey bits so it makes sense that bite hurts more. The males seem like very relaxed, the one i had was very polite. Also slower than the also unfairly maligned hobo spider
I live in southern Indiana. The first time I ever saw,"The Toe-biter". Was in the parking lot of the Dollar Store. It lunged at me, as I walked by it! This thing was crazy aggressive! I had no idea at the time. That I was looking at the insect. With the 4th most painful bite, in the world! It had been raining really hard for a day or so. So I'm thinking that it must have come from the drainage ditch, flooding the parking lot. On the way out of the store, I had to show it to my girlfriend. It had been squished by some type of vehicle or another! A couple of days later. I started trying to figure out, what it was. That was trying to kill me, in the $ store parking lot. Once I figured it out! I was shocked!
Anyways, another stellar video my man! Be safe out there! You know that, it's wild! 💯
I just absolutely love when these two kids work together! And those twins too, I just love them all!!!
water bugs are always so cool
I agree! Some of my favorites for sure, can’t believe it took me this long to finally get one!
Saw one of these in Thailand. For some reason it was in a pool. In Thailand they eat these and are sold as street food. My brother ate A LOT (with other bugs too) and later he started throwing up because he ate a crud ton of bugs.
They’re good protein that’s for sure! I’d imagine they would taste similar to shrimp or crayfish.
@@MyWildBackyard what's shrimp but the insects of the seas.. well somewhat at least
@@a_lethe_ion you’re not wrong. They’re all in the clade Pancrustacea after all
amazing!! video love learning about these new amazing creatures!!!! never stop making content!!!
I've been finding giant water bugs the past few years in one vernal pool. So creepy!
I had my first encounter with a water bug 9 years ago when it flew at the porch light at night.
That’s how they’re found! I’ve never been so lucky so I had to go trek out into the swamp and test my luck 😂
Your channel is so sick man. Just saw your post. It's good to see you're making a conscious effort to take care of yourself and take a step back. I think that's very important and I can't wait to see where you go from here! :) Much love from the U.P. of Michigan!
his post where? have a link?
YOU FINALLY DID A VIDEO ON THE TOEBITER HELL YES I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!! TH-cam didn't notify me for some reason despite this being my hugest wish.
Yeah TH-cam has been WEIRD with notifications. Did a whole carnivorous plants deep dive recently too! No one saw it lol
I live in Salt Lake City Utah and had a Giant one of these come flying into my garage one night. It was just under 2” long and almost sounded like a rock hitting the metal rack it flew into.
Wow this was a super neat video! I had no idea some of these guys existed, and I'm glad to now know otherwise. A lot of my research involved creatures that survive under water, but mostly in extreme environments like the Arctic. It's cool to learn about swamp creatures, and bugs in general. I like the diversifying of your channel, and when you have guests like Jack. I laughed when he said "that's not going to be on the test, forget about it!" Ironically something I said in my evolution class for some stuff lol. Anyway, keep up the great work! Excited for your next video, especially with the hidden references/jokes ;)
I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
I'll never forget finding one of those toe biters in a mud puddle when I was a kid and I picked it up only to have it clamp down on my finger and bit me good. It definitely isn't a bug you want to take a bite from.
Loved that Spencer - you and Jack are good together onscreen... (plus, he's an absol. Demon with that net, hey?... ). Thanksalot, Bobby 🐃
SPENCER THE COMMENCER OF LEARNING! whats good buddy! great video as usual, love the collab, wishing all the best for ya in 2024. keep it going dude, kids love the videos and youre wholesome af. cheers!!
Wow, that thing is wild!! Great find, and great catch by Jack. I had no idea toe-biters were so metal
They are indeed! Basically assassin bugs on steroids.
I used to get these in my swimming pool from time to time. They make a very scary sound when they start to chase you underwater.
Saw one of the baddies all the way up in Michigan go figure. It was dead, but I brought it inside and scared the hell out of people with it. Looked them up later and learned of the moniker 'Toe Bitter". Ouch, I can only imagine how that would hurt haha.
The water bugs front legs make it look so greedy 😆 HaHa It's easy to picture it shoving food in its mouth like "Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine!!" 😄
I see it didn’t take long to find the wonderous small fry known as Jack
I watch both of you guy’s channels and love them both! I’m glad you guys help each other out with videos. The content you both create is always really informative and awesome! Have you guys ever thought about creating another channel involving both of you together creating content, so you’d have both your own and one that’s a collaboration channel?
Funny you should suggest a collaboration channel. We are actually in the planning phase of something like that, tentatively beginning production in the second half of the year!
@@MyWildBackyard that will be fantastic! I definitely look forward to it and will be a subscriber! 👍😊
I stopped getting notifications and we were a bit concerned, but found your channel and yes I am still subbed to your channel! I have no idea why no notifications I was afraid something had happened after you were bitten by that spider(that was venomous)! Glad all is ok!!!!Patricia Gambino Harrington
TH-cam has been SUPER weird this last year about that. I’m gonna start advertising my posting schedule a bit more rigorously for a while now, cause it seems like the videos aren’t getting pushed out to you and many other subscribers! Starting this Saturday, every week at 3PM eastern time new videos are going up- so if TH-cam continues to be weird, not to worry! There’ll be a video up there for ya right on schedule. Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention, I’ll make a post soon as well.
This was an unexpected collab. Glad to see it
I thought you would have left a link for dudes channel. It would have been nice!!
I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Found one of these once on my local lake. Brother brought it to me on a pencil. We held a feather up to it and it lashed out hard trying to bite it. It was one of the coolest moments of my life. I free handled it. Afterwards I looked it up and was shocked to find out what it was. Just thankful I didn't get bit!
The pickerel might actually be a redfin or grass pickerel; especially for where it was found. They’re the smallest of the family and have those gorgeous orange fins
awesome video! love the search for creatures-type of video it's really cool :)
Some of my favorites to make as well! Love getting out and just poking around to see what's there!
Hey man love ur vids
Yaaay Hemiptera! I do really like the insects here. The diving beetle and the Toe Biter are in my opinion quite cute, but they are formidable, and I would NOT want to be bitten by that thing. It's fascinating that spiders arachnids are the go to for venomous arthropods, but there are so many critters that are venomous, even these otherwise unassuming creatures. They are forces of nature in their ecosystem and they're so gnarly. It's also always fun to be like "well, bugs don't encompass all insects but all bugs are insects"
Also it must have been difficult to film at points with Jack's eccentric personality. Two great wildlife educators in one. Great video!
Always a blast to film with Jack! Never a dull moment for sure. And he has unparalleled expertise on a lot of these creatures, often times stuff that I didn't even know. Makes for great teamwork in the field!
@@MyWildBackyard that's awesome! Love to see it for sure!
Funny thing about these is that like… I know they have an immensely painful bite but they don’t really look all that scary to me. They just look like if a leaf wanted to be the TBH creature/I Am Looking meme. Funny little guys.
They really are weird looking. My girlfriend said their face looks like the alien 👽 emoji
Best TH-camrs collab for me. Keep them coming 👍🔥
You got it!
The first thing we see in the night is a big ol' black jellybean. Truly terrifying. ❤
As soon as you said, "Florida", I knew we were in for something wild.
I had one land on me while I was watching a local team host the state football championship few years back. Had never seen or been aware of these beetles until then. Freaked me out at first. Did not know they flew either.
Oh what lol these are the two guys I watch for bug spider and snake videos lol
I've seen and caught many of these when I was a kid.
just the boys rutin around the swamps at night
Insects have no chill or manners... I love spiders they're charming and won't crawl in your mouth while you're sleeping like literally any insect wouldm.. PS thank you for clearing up what a bug actually is i learnt something today that I didn't know yesterday 😊
i would love to go outside at night, but in my culture, evil spirits will follow us home.
65 years ago, all we had to do to see Toe Biters was to leave the kid pool full of water over night and the next day there would be one or more of those bugs in the pool.
If I am remembering real life and not remembering a dream those water boatmen can fly also, I seem to remember watching them fly into our pool and immediately dive and swim the moment they hit the water.
I have never seen Jack but when he came on the camera, he looked like a psycho! Made me smile!
The first one's are pretty similar to the ones we have around here in southern new jersey. Maannnnn do they hurt 😑
Roll around or run away hurt lmao
Alligator sounds intensifies xD
I caught a giant water bug last summer in the skookumchuck river here in Western Washington.
And that is a little one. The biggest one I have found was almost 3in long and a good inch wide. We have found them any where there is moving fresh water, even in my subdivision.
Figures the first freakish creature you found in a Florida swamp is Jack. While perhaps not quite as grotesque as some of the alien-looking arthropods you’ve found, he’s definitely a bizarre find. And he was hanging out out with a toe-biter!
But do people really push back on toe-biters being venomous? If someone doubts it, I challenge them to let one bite you. You’ll understand the venom then…
Jack needs to switch to decaf lol.
😂😂😂
oh interesting, are giant waterbugs rare around where you live? here in michigan we get a ton of them. my buddy took aquatic ent and he caught 60 of them over the summer
They’re not necessarily rare but they’re one of those things that have just evaded me for forever. Like walkingsticks. I almost never see those either and it’s not just due to their camouflage 😂
I'm waiting for you to have William of "William's Wild World of Waffles" on your show as you two seek out the waffle-backed Yellow-bellied Mugschlupper.
I see those in my area of Texas once in a while, American Cockroaches are extremely common in this area and I got freaked out when I first saw a water bug, they look like roaches that lift.
I have seen quite a few water scorpions and some smaller species of water bugs i even saw a water scorpion chowing down on a small fish
but i have yet to find a giant water bug or another slug hunter in the wild tho slug hunters are quite colorful
I can imagine being bitten by a toe biter and never liking them again. I do admit, they are absolutely amazing .
Im glad they didnt bring garett cause he would just yoink everything there
What part of florida is this marsh in? Like what town is it by? I live in central/north florida and I want to know the best place to do this near me
That one guy who walks barefoot in the Florida everglades
Do these guys get pretty big? Because I think I saw one about 3 times as big as the one you held. It wasn't in water though. I work nights and it showed up on the grounds where I patrol and it was, I dunno, pulsating? Weird. Haha
Don't worry about those swamp gators ig
I need to get a new prescription because all i saw was mud 😂😂😂😂😂
😂
Thats the smallest toe biter ive ever seen! No Offence its actually impressive to me as im raising them as pets and they only stay that size for like 2 weeks also congrats on seeing one!
Now ive been bitten by a back swimmer or whatever they are called and that hurt like hell but i could imagine a gisnt water bug would be worse
What’s that strange creature called jack. I’ve never seen one of those before 😂😂❤
love the channel pal, Jack not so much. Sorry I switched off
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrghh nope nope nope just noooope.. I'm so glad I'm a scaffolder I'd much rather fall several stories than have one of those toe biters anywhere Near me 😂
how many mosquito bites?
9:29 actually ive seen them eating ducklings rats turtles and fully grown cut throat trout so it could def eat a pickerel
Those are nothing compared to what's currently living inside of me . Imagine bug with all of its legs by its adomine , the adomine is long with the end tucking under it slightly . Beautiful golden brownish colour on one side and a dull white colour on the other side . The baby's are white and long with legs all the way along it on both sides ,iv also seen them in black and I think they maybe capable of camouflaging its self . The baby's roll up into a ball and look and feel like fine sand paper grit . My hair is full of them , they not only breed in my body but also on my head . Alot of the older ones pile under the skin on my head and stretch it to as thin as they possibly can , they then start send lava through , its painfull and feels like a burning sensation. No headachs , just burning sensation which can be very painful at times . They do not hurt me intentionally and don't bite me on the inside so long as I have food in my stomach, if I don't eat they start biting me . They live on what I eat on my body fat . I'm healthy only the symptoms I display says I have diabetes even though all of my diabetes tests have come back clear. I can't get help from doctors because they say it's scientifically impossible for something like I'm describing to happen inside of the human body . No xrays , no ultra sounds , just a couple of blood tests then your crazy go to mental health. I did and did their medication for the specified time period , didn't change any thing. Right now some ate moving through my chest area, it feels like a vibration moving through me , that's the closest I can get to explain what it feels . Yes it scears and freaks the shit out of me when they move enmass .
oh I've eaten one of those
Looks like Lethocerus americanus ...brrr I don't want to be bitten by these aliens
Yep close cousin! Used to be classified as Lethocerus but got moved over to Benacus. Don’t ask me why I don’t know why they make these changes 😂😂
I caught a Giant Waterbug one time and it Bit the hell out of me.
I bet! They have a NASTY bite.
*injected
Survival of the fittest, everything else is dinner.
Do these live in North America?
Yep! Filmed this in Florida
@@MyWildBackyard nice
We don't tend to use the word " bug" outside of bedbugs as we see them all as the insects they are, in Britain that is. Ok occasionally you will hear it but its not like used as much as you guys use it. If we are speaking about bugs its generally listening devices. We would tend to call hemineptera just that.
If you wernt doing all this great stuff you fo sho should narrate
I might take it on as a side gig! Been getting that comment a lot lately so it must be something worth looking into!
2:12 PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLES AAAAAAAAAAA I LOVE THEM SOOOOOOO MUCH I LOVE PICKING THEM UP THEY'RE SO CUTE EVEN IF THEY CAN BITE! You just gotta be calm and gentle with them, that's all. Don't just grab em. Stick your hands in the water and let em crawl on you. I wonder what that hole looking thing is at 2:47 on it's rear? LOOK AT THAT PRECIOUS LITTLE FACE AT 2:56 AWWWWWWWW.
4:16 LOOK GARY THERE I AM.
4:57 I screamed in excitement. They're so goofy looking for a hemipteran, crazy that they're so thin. Especially since their closest relative is FAT.
7:16 the creepy atmosphere is definitely the appeal, yessir.
8:07 LOOK AT MY TINY MAN. He's flexing his muscles. That's tiny for a toebiter honestly. The ones I saw here in Mississippi are HUGE. 8:11 just look at that goofy ass face, it's so adorable. They're pretty chill ironically, there's a video online that shows that they're smart enough to know somebody swirling their fingers in water isn't food (I'd share for TH-cam will report my comment as spam). They usually fly towards you to get you away and to escape. You have to be extremely stupid to get one to bite while holding it. They seem to not care whatsoever if they crawl on to you instead of the other way around.
9:10 cicadas are our other largest true bugs in North America. I've seen some Megatibicen grossa that could rival some toebiters in size.
9:50 it's more or less venomous. It's am enzyme they inject into prey which is basically the same thing as venom. The only debate is a technicality, not on its actual functionality. It definitely does the same damage as any neurotoxic venom lol.
10:23 funny, this is completely normal for carnivorous hemipterans, all of them. But it's not really that scary since we know they HAVE to liquify muscle in order to eat it. But when somebody says that about spiders and wasps or something, it just feels a little.......scary. Like they have actual mouthpieces that can chew on food. So why liquify it? Obviously it's not actually evil or anything, but I do find it hilarious that my brain (and probably others) have totally different opinions on a hemipteran liquifying prey compared to other predatory arthropods. 10:43 how could you hate that face though, it's so precious.
Great video Spencer. You did toebiters justice, no fear-mongering or anything. I'd love to send you that video about the toebiter refusing to bite a human finger, any way I can send it to you?
Link it to me over on Discord!
Over my lifetime I've been bitten by the "love-bug," twice, both ended in disaster, when ever I'm married I have no money when I'm single I'm "loaded!" I have been bitten by "Whirley-Gigs, itchy;- at Lake Geneva WI. Giant Water Bugs Yuck!
Yummy
Just a creature looking for other interesting creatures.
1:17 look it's jerk's world of wildlife! hi, jerk! I love you!
Very interesting