The giant water bug is also found in washington state; I've come across several over the years. The most recent one was also in everett about a year ago. I was visiting a friend near the legion park golf course when a young neighbor girl ran up to the door yelling " a giant bug is attacking your cat! ". It turned out to be a giant water bug vigorously defending itself against my friends young playfull cat out on their front lawn. It was a big one too, at least 2 1/2 long. These big bugs fly quite well so it may have flown in from the nearby snohomish river estuary, which as the bug flys is not very far from the everett station, and they are attracted by bright lights. The train smuggling idea makes a better story though.

I have been bit by the critters other aquatic bug relatives, the water scorpion and the very common backswimmer and they hurt! Wouldn't want to find out what the big guy feels like.



Happy bugging
Jeff Gibson
everett wa