One night this week, I saw a bug on the deck. The sighting was just after I had been on the deck, and the bug wasn't there then. I believe that Fuzzy had brought it up as a play toy. It was pretty large as demonstrated by the tape measure next to it:
The reason I am pretty sure that Fuzzy brought it up is because I think it is a Large Diving Beetle. As the name implies, it is primarily a water bug. However, according to my bug book, when the larva is fully grown, it creeps out of the water to pupate in moist earth. We have plenty of moist earth that it would be interested in (and a small stream out back).
Fuzzy was playing with it, although carefully as it was prone to jumping at the cat, instead of away. The larvea are voracious predators, according to the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders, so the adult could probably could inflict a decent bite/pinch if given a chance. Last I saw, Fuzzy either batted it down the stairs, or carried it down the stairs.
I'm good, as long as it didn't end up inside the house!
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