Dragonfly nymphs - anyone ever been bitten?

[King Edward]

Just a quick question prompted by today's 'Do dragonflies bite' thread. Has anyone ever been bitten while handling a dragonfly nymph? I have always felt very comfortable handling these, in contrast to Great Diving Beetle larvae and Greater Water Boatmen which I am very wary of handling, so I was just wondering if anyone here has had any negative experiences with these.

[AndyC]

When I was nipper (get it, oh never mind) I found a huge dragonfly nymph while gutting a trout I'd caught at the local reservoir. Despite having spent at least three hours in the trouts innards the nymph was still very wriggly so I decided to give it a second chance by putting it in the garden pond. On the way to the pond the bloody thing bit me hard on the palm of the hand, there's gratitude for you! My hand didn't fall off and I didn't die.
The nymph hatched several weeks later

Andy

[GCN lova]

personally i would never handle Great Diving Beetle Larvae after one bit (gosh they're big!) me. i haven't handled dragonfly larvae but i once was pond dipping when i picked a beetle and it pinched me really hard, harder then a wasps sting!!!! ive still got a scar on my finger!!!!

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by AndyC

On the way to the pond the bloody thing bit me hard on the palm of the hand, there's gratitude for you!

Sure it wasn't a Great Diving Beetle larvae? - they look quite similar, and do bite!
I don't think that I've ever heard of a dragonfly larvae biting someone before!

[Ukwildlifeo]

Ive pick up a few, though usually briefly and not been bitten. They always seem quite shy and dont even attack prey species in a pond tray, at least for a while after they are caught.

Diving beetle larvae however I've seen one attack and consume another of almost equal size! They just keep eating and attacking where ever they are, and I can see one biting (or stabbing) someones hand!

[King Edward]

I watched one large nymph once feeding in a tray immediately after netting. I forget which species it was, probably either Emperor or Migrant Hawker. I was looking at this nymph in the tray and noticed a Damselfly nymph nearby, so I tilted the tray slightly to get it in front of the Hawker, whereupon it seized it immediately and consumed it entirely with a few swift chews.

The Great Diving Beetle larvae though seem to be utterly ferocious. I saw a large one once that had actually seized and killed a nearly full grown Great Crested Newt larva, actually out of the water while they were in the net together.

[~T~]

I've handled a few and never been bitten though I did get bitten as a kid by a large pond skater while cupping it in my hand. It sort of pierced my skin with its mouthparts which really hurt and itched for a while after. Lesson learned there.

[T0m4ever]

I've never been bitten by one, always careful about handling one though.

I have been bitten on the lip by a wasp

[GCN lova]

Originally Posted by ~T~

I've handled a few and never been bitten though I did get bitten as a kid by a large pond skater while cupping it in my hand. It sort of pierced my skin with its mouthparts which really hurt and itched for a while after. Lesson learned there.

how big do pond skaters get because ive seen them about 6 cm on all sides which was really freaky!

[Dogghound]

I think you must be mixing them up with something else or overestimating the size. Pond skaters never reach this sort of size. It could be something like Aquarius najas that you are seeing which is larger than Gerris, but still not 6cm. Or water stick insect? but these live below the surface.