Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Ouch --- Stung on the foot

Ok, I am a newbie. Was out barefoot sampling to see if any of the PK shrimp have survived that TJ cordeinated me getting last fall.

Anyway I regularly brought up a bunch of small cricket/spider (1/2") looking creatures and got stung on my foot a few times. Was i seeing what stung me or is there a stealth stinging bug that likes pond shallows? It hurt like crazy but the pain goes away much quicker than a bee sting. No residual effect like a mosquito bite. What are those things stinging me?

Also as many of these and small snails as i got, it seems that the fish should have a hayday.

Did not see amy PK shrimp tho. Am still hopeful some made it and maybe will find out when Greg Grimes comes next month to shock, or that is, if his shocker will get them too.

Sounds like a dragonfly nymph. They don't bite.

Water bugs do bite. They're flat with no wing covers, and come in several sizes. The smaller types hurt, the giant ones have a very painful bite. Back swimmers also bite, but it's not real painful. They're not plentiful this time of year.

Water beetles can also bite. They have shiny wing covers, and come in a few sizes.

I wouldn't want to step on a PK shrimp and break off that sharp sticker in my foot. I bet that would hurt, and be hard to remove.

About 5 years ago, I talked my Child Bride in helping me seine a forage pond. She said something was biting on her feet. I haven't gotten her help since then. Heck, nothing ever bites on me.

Rick

Are you using your sampling net around the submerged vegetation? That's where I always found them last Autumn, right in the vegetation. I sure hope they took hold! I'm going to sample my place this week, water temps up to 62 which is amazing for NE in early April. We went from Arctic to Summer in a span of about two weeks.

me too

Toe biter sounds like it. From your experience Brettski,sounds like even flip flops will not guarantee being sting free. I will think twice before going in barefooted again. I hope the fish eat 'em.

TJ, yes i was sampling pushing down into the vegetation while pulling the net with the rim dragging on the bottom. Got a few 2" bg, which I was glad to see. As i recall several of the PK were expecting, and i hope they spawned before cold wx. They were put in about Sept 12.