Think this is a spider? Now you're just screwing with me!

[AgentDrex]

Five photos of some unknown beetle (edit: this is a "Giant Water Bug"):

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

 

[Polyphony]

Are you asking for critique or a bug ID or neither?

 

[AgentDrex]

Whichever seems best...either or all of those choices would do fine...

 

[Polyphony]

I'm not sure about the bug, I'm pretty sure I've seen it before though.

I like the third one the best because of the angle. I would have liked to see the entire bug in focus and not so tight to the left of the frame.

Looks like the sun was pretty low in the sky, makes for some nice light.

 

[AgentDrex]

All were taken early this morning...it at first had been on the opposite side of the building I work at but I picked it up and brought it over to where there was some nice morning light coming up...I should have been a little further away and then cropped in so more of the beetle was in focus...but I don't think I got its address before we did the shoot so I guess I'll have to wait around until I see another one...:meh:

 

[ajkramer87]

Looks like a giant water bug.
Species Lethocerus americanus - Giant Water Bug - BugGuide.Net

 

[AgentDrex]

Thanks for the ID...I'll read into it...sure looks like one to me as well...

 

[Josh220]

It's definitely not a spider. Easiest way to tell is the number of legs. It's some kind of water beetle due to the hairs on its legs.

 

[AgentDrex]

It's definitely not a spider. Easiest way to tell is the number of legs.

But don't spiders have eight legs?

 

[AgentDrex]

Is that one of them thar durn water spiders?

 

[kundalini]

But don't spiders have eight legs?

So does an octopus. I don't think your specimen is either one of those.

 

[AgentDrex]

So does an octopus. I don't think your specimen is either one of those.

Gosh darn it, now I have to edit to look similar to an octopus? Okay then:

 

[kundalini]