“A giant water bug has been photographed eating a juvenile turtle in an unusual predatory role reversal. Large bugs in the Lethocerinae family have been known to prey upon small vertebrates including fish and frogs. But unlike insects that often fall prey to reptiles, scientists have observed one particular species of bug eating snakes and a turtle. Dr Shin-ya Ohba recorded the unusual behavior during night sampling in western Hyogo, central Japan. Writing in the journal Entomological Science, Dr Ohba describes observing a Kirkaldyia deyrolli eating a Reeve’s pond turtle in a ditch next to a rice field. Using its front legs the giant water bug gripped the turtle, inserting its syringe-like rostrum into the prey’s neck in order to feed. The giant water bugs are known to only attack moving prey, so it is likely that the 58mm insect captured and killed the young turtle before feeding on it. Dr Ohba has also photographed giant water bugs eating snakes in the past.” w/ photos
