Mang Da Na - Giant Water Bug !!

Mang Da Na looks like over sized mutated cockroaches but i can confirm that they’re not but at first i thought it was a huge cockroaches or flying predator till it landed on my balcony and at closer examination i knew then it wasn't a cockroach in fact i didn't know what it was till i goggle it and found it's a huge friendly water bug known as the Mang Da Na that had just lost it's way.

Apparently these are the biggest kind water bugs found in Thailand they are normally found in Central and Northern of Thailand farm areas where there is fresh rivers and dams for them so this guy was a long way from home but he was feeling comfortable on my balcony walking around on his 6 huge long legs and a pair of huge radar antennas.

He spotted my huge green plant on my balcony and he probably felt at home sitting in my plant i wasn't going to argue with him because i was enjoying his company looking at his huge predator eyes this bug was amazing he had no fear of me but i was a little concerned not really knowing what he was capable of so i did keep my distance a little. I just let him be and rest up he probably been flying blind for hours not knowing where he was....lol 🙂

And here comes the sad part about these beautiful looking giant water bugs the male Mang Da Na has a distinct fragrance that makes them a nice ingredient for other Thai dishes , such as various Nam Prik or Chili Paste, Som Tam or Papaya Salad, and you will also find Nam Pla Mang Da Na or Fish Sauce with Mang Da Na fragrance.

And the female Mang Da Na bug is deep fried the body of these bugs are like a pocket with a little bit of meat in them deep fried and adding some garlic and chili you eat the meat inside the pockets not the shell. If you like to try the head make sure you open the head and pick out the brownish meat.