The creeping water bug, also called the alligator mite, is only about ¼ to ½ inches long. The species that is found most often at Brazos Bend State Park has a metallic green head and thorax, red eyes, and brown wings. The body is flat and oval-shaped, slightly pointed at the rear. The head, thorax and eyes form an unbroken oval shaped curve.

Creeping water bug (Naucoridae) 8 mm long

The forelegs are modified into very powerful claws for seizing prey. The hind legs have many hairs on them to make them more effective for swimming. Creeping water bugs are very active. They can crawl and swim very fast and are often difficult to catch. While underwater, creeping water bugs breathe air from bubbles that they trap under their wings

Creeping water bugs are predators. Like most other hemiptera, they have a piercing beak that they use to kill their prey. They seize the prey in their raptorial forelegs and stab it with the beak. Then they inject chemicals into the prey to dissolve its tissue. They can then suck the dissolved tissue up through the beak. The bite of a creeping water bug is very painful for about five minutes. It is usually followed by numbness in the are of the bite for a period up to an hour. The small size of the creeping water bug makes them difficult to pick up safely with fingers. The use of forceps is recommended.

Beak of Creeping Water Bug

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Giant Water Bug

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