What is the Difference?
Posted by ListenToLeon on
June 21, 2007
I know that I could probably find this out on Google or Wikipedia, but since I don’t want to accidentally see any pictures of these motherf*ckers, I must pose this question to you, my loyal readers. What is the difference between roaches and water bugs?
Back when I was at Hampton, the old gym used to have the largest roaches I’ve ever seen in my life. Not regular sized, nasty restaurant roaches. I’m talking big-ass, Barry Bonds home run hitting steroid roaches. The type that run up on you quoting rap lyrics, talking about “They say I crawl around like I got an ‘S’ on my chest!”
One day, I was in the weight room, just finishing up a workout. The lady who worked there checking IDs was making small talk with me. My roommate told me that his friends called her “Slurpee” because she had a reputation for giving good head. She was never really on my radar as far as women I wanted to pursue, but in the back of my mind that particular day, I decided that I was trying to see what her nickname was all about.
While I was rapping to Slurpee, this big-ass bodybuilder roach crawls up about 5 feet away from us and stood on its hind legs. The damned thing had nappy braids in its beard like Lyfe Jennings and a Virgin Mary tattoo on its abdomen. Not just any Virgin Mary tattoo, but a Mister Cartoon original. How that roach got the money to fly to Los Angeles to get that kind of ink is beyond me.
All I know is the roach had the nerve to challenge me to a pose down. We went back and forth, trying to out-flex the other on some Hulk Hogan sh*t. I gained the advantage when I made my pectorals dance. I knew it couldn’t copy the move since roaches have exoskeletons. The roach crawled off angrily, mumbling “This n*gga cheating!” to itself.
After that debacle, I turned to Slurpee and she said “You showed that water bug who’s boss!” We then argued with each other as to whether or not it was a roach, or a water bug. Somehow, it ended up getting much more heated than it should have. Needless to say, Slurpee never got a chance to suck me up and taste my flavorful goodness.
So readers, I beg you: Let me know what a water bug is, and how it differs from a roach. I need to know if a water bug is a real species, or if this is some old black folk term that’s been passed down through the ages. Thanks in advance.
30 Responses to “What is the Difference?”
We have a lot of these outside our building. An exterminator told us the same thing. “They are waterbugs” What the Hell? They are huge, disgusting, and there are lots of them. Is calling it a water bug supposed to make us feel better about them? These things are huge, to bad we cant tame them, they can give me a ride around town and save me Metro money.
By Jeremy on Jun 21, 2007
Leon, dude you crack me up! I think water bugs is just something black folks coined…like air wiggers. LOL! Aren’t waterbugs a part of the cockroach family? I grew up in the projects (Newark, NJ) and those n*ggas can fly!
Seriously, Leon, should you have kids some day I’m certain you’re going to tell them great stories.
WL
p.s. I’ve been hitting you up on myspace, but you don’t wanna let a sista in…is it because I’m not light skindidid? LOL! Anywho, your ma-dukes and I have the same b-day….accept a sista already!
By WonderLove on Jun 21, 2007
I almost forgot to add this disclaimer: I embellished that story somewhat. The weight room incident happened, but the roach/water bug could not speak, and he did not have a tattoo or facial hair. However, there was a posedown, which ended when I chased him with a shoe and attempted to kill him. Just thought I’d put that out there just in case someone tries to call “bullsh*t” or something.
@ Jeremy, those things are all over NW DC at night.
@ Wonderlove, I’m thinking the same thing. It’s probably a name that poor folks came up with because they were in denial that actual roaches could get that big!
Also, send me a message today on myspace letting me know who you are on there. I’m sorry that I have not added you yet.
By Hustleman on Jun 21, 2007
They are really the same thing just down South they are mainly called waterbugs.
By Sheena on Jun 21, 2007
Okay, my mother told me there is a difference between the two, because I saw no difference when I was younger but I’m going to look it up for you just to make sure
By [peach] on Jun 21, 2007
Okay I looked it up. They are the same thing lol.
water bug – small light-brown cockroach brought to United States from Europe; a common household pest
By [peach] on Jun 21, 2007
The damn thing is a big a** roach! Funny, you should post this today because I have story too. I was walking into my kitchen late last night, lights off, half sleep to get something to drink. I turn on the lights and a big a** water bug comes running out. My bug was on steriods running fast as hell under my stove. I have never seen a bug that damn big before. We are talking Jenny Craig life needing gastric-by-pass big as hell bug. I was surpised, as big as it was, that it moved that fast. Sensing I was about to smash the hell out of it, it hides. So I do the next best thing, I get raid and start spraying the hell out of the kitchen. The damn thing comes running at my toes, I jump, scream and finally spray it to death. I was pissed at $1000+ a month, this was not cool. Then I discovered a big a** whole behind the wall of my stove. Needless to say, I bagged the sh** and took the damn dead bug to the rent office this morning. I needed some damn answers. My first question was “what the hell is this and why is it in my apartment.” The lady responds, “Oh, I see you have a big one there.” Excuse me, I stated. She said, “we see those all the time, it’s just a little water bug.” I won’t bore you with how that conversation went down, but let’s just say she, the exterminator and wall repair man were at my apartment in 30 minutes. Moral of the story is…it’s a water bug, but it does not make me feel better.
By FitMiss on Jun 21, 2007
I am pretty sure Water Bug is just a southern term for gigantic roach. The two are one in the same. I was laughing hard as hell at your conversation escalating to a point where head was no longer an option. I have had that happen to me a number of times. Things start off lighthearted and end with me having a scowl on my face. Oh well, good story.
By Jabari Talib on Jun 21, 2007
I think waterbugs and roaches are basically the same thing. I didnt want to look it up neither because I hate bugs (no tapped cell phone).
I hate them all, waterbugs, roaches, crickets, cockaroaches (no Cole on the Cosby Show). The only roaches I know are the ones I find in my ashtray in my car and smoke.
By Big Homie on Jun 21, 2007
damn…funny story my nigga! the two are from the same family only that the waterbug is a giant n a whole lot more uglier than a roach…..that motherfucker is scary son with all sorts of different cousins with shit on their back like hair brushes….thank God in most parts of my country waterbugs don’t exist, roaches are commonday galore shit we name those motherfuckers like we family….
oh….i clicked one ad ended up on a christian site….hmmm
pamoja!!!
By Odhis on Jun 22, 2007
Do they have those big ass flying roaches up in VA like they do down in Mississippi and Florida? A flying roach decided to leap into me one day, I thought I was being murdered.
By Leoninatl on Jun 22, 2007
I dont think “waterbugs” multiply as bad as roaches. Actually,I really dont know.
A relative came to stay with me a few days and after she left a “waterbug” was standing in my hallway. That heifer brought bugs into my house! It was huge!
By meems on Jun 22, 2007
Do they have those big ass flying roaches up in VA like they do down in Mississippi and Florida? A flying roach decided to leap into me one day, I thought I was being murdered.
^^ I think so because I saw one on a smoke break the other day at work. I tried to step on one, and it took a lift off. WTF?
By Big Homie on Jun 22, 2007
@ Big Homie, I have also been chased by a flying roach. I was running around the house screaming like a bitch and damn near crying. I do not fux around with flying bugs comming at my face.
By [peach] on Jun 22, 2007
Ok, this post and the subsequent comments have offically skeeved me out! I remember the big waterbugs that flew when I was younger. I don’t see them anymore. What I do see outside are little black ones that I was told were waterbugs but someone years ago. No matter. As long as it’s not in my house, I’m GOOD.
By Mahogany Brown on Jun 22, 2007
If I EVER see a flying waterbug, I am dead. I am not sure of the difference either, but I HATE waterbugs, a friend of mine had them when I was younger and I was terrified of them. I saw a big ‘ol roach in middle school one time, and it was as big as a waterbug. The only difference I can see is roaches are brown, waterbugs are black.
By Chocolate on Jun 22, 2007
Water Bug is a term that people use to deflect the obvious embarrassment of a guest seeing a big ass roach in their house. The implied difference in meaning is that Roaches live in nasty ass people’s houses whereas Water Bugs somehow come into clean responsible tax-paying people’s houses from outside where they live. In my experience the distinction between seeing a Water Bug at someone’s house as opposed to millions of smaller species of roaches operating as living wallpaper in someone’s (Crack) house is purely determined by their level of cleanliness, or lack thereof. We have the big angry dive-bombing flying variety of Water Bugs down in New Orleans. Hurr. Katrinal killed the bastards off for a couple of months but they eventually came back. The whole thing is kind of like the Paul Mooney joke about people calling pidgeons doves and sewer rats squirrels to make them sound more tolerable than they are.
By Toothpick on Jun 22, 2007
LMAO! I remember seeing one of those bastards when I lived in Florida and my mom tryna coax my 9 year old mind into believing it was actually not a roach…suuuuurrrrre! Water Bug is another name for roaches but there is an actual “water bug” that lives in water, flies and can grow to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s called a toe biter. THANKS GOOGLE!
By Tiara on Jun 24, 2007
In my humble opinion I think waterbugs are the exact same as cockroaches, it’s just that they are in a special task force that attacks from the water. Kinda like the Naval academy cadets and the Seals. They are both in the NAVY but the Seals are the best of the best.
By J-Biggs on Jun 24, 2007
I can’t even answer the question because I’m stuck on the fact that you were trying to mack on “Slurpee.”…… dead
By Kryssy on Jun 25, 2007
Man….Same case here, my Ma told me that “waterbugs” come in the house after the rain. I was suckered too cause now that I have my own apt. I saw one. I damn near hit the roof!! It was so huge!! The exterminator came but to no avail. I feel like crying right now just thinking about possibly seeing another one. I really keep my place emaculate and I’m not sure what draws them or where thy come from.
By AliMari on Apr 28, 2008
This has me cracking up!! Have you guys seen a house centipede? When I lived in Chicago it seemed like if you had a window near a tree, your house would definitely be hosting a party for these scary bugs. Imagine a centipede, now imagine all those legs as long as the body, and now imagine them moving at top speed on your walls, ceiling, floor…yeah. Scariest bug I have ever seen and they are impossible to catch. Once we moved to the suburbs, never saw them again!
By Beth on May 7, 2008
wow.. thats an awesome story I have never had the pleasureof being in such a situation as you were in, but roaches (waterbuggs) make me sick, and they are the same thing, i guess some ppl like calling them waterbuggs to make themselves feel better and help them sleep at night!! anyway good story i enjoyed the read
By Shelly on May 9, 2008
I got chased by two of them mofo’s last night and damn near had a nervous break down. It’s funny now but last night I seriously considered packing my ish and moving at 2am… I’ll never be the same. But after hundreds of google searches on how to kill them thangs (they are resistant to everything!! all you can do is stun the for a few secondss before you flush them) waterbugs and giant roaches are the same thing. I’m from Cali and just moved to Texas, they ain’t neva lied when they said everything is bigger in Texas.
By Bay's Finest on May 22, 2008
hilarious, I’m afraid to keep researching the difference for fear of seeing pictures. roach/waterbug.. to-mA-to/ to-mah-to samethang
By krys on Jun 2, 2009
shit i just had a house centaped chase the fuck out of a water bug freaked the fucc out of me
By djfaust816 on Jun 13, 2009
I’m going to have to disagree with most of the replies and tell you that yes, they are two different bugs. I’ve lived in some pretty bad neighborhoods in Philly and we had both, so you can see the difference. Waterbugs are fat and basically come from the water. They can come up the drains. There are a lot of them in cities because of the clogged sewers on every corner. They’re harmless, but yeah, its never fun to see a huge bug in your house. They’re just common in some areas, there’s not much you can do about it. Thats why the person who said their house is clean but they still had waterbugs is out of luck. Roaches, however, come from filth. Literally, they eat trash and rotting things and dwell in dirty homes and many apartment buildings. Waterbugs come and go as they please, roaches multiply quickly and infest your house (and they’re the ones that usually die on their back).
By Christine on Jul 16, 2009
lmfaooooo !! omg you guys are hilarious tories are great had me waking ppl up & is fckn 2:5O in the morning wooh !! idk whats the difference really but to me it looks like waterbugs are way fckn uglier & fatter & I think the females fly >.< is disgusting I tear whenever I see a roach or waterbug .
By WepaSooBad on Nov 6, 2009
I’m not sure of the difference but, Las Vegas has the biggest roaches I’ve ever seen! One chased me at the hotel. I was in the lobby (it was half indoor/half outdoor lobby) approaching the elevators, when a roach started crawling toward my foot. When I ran, he ran! I jumped on the elevator and pushed the button! While the doors started to close, a man asked me to hold the elevator. The roach heard him and started running for the elevator doors! I pushed the “close” button and apologized to the man by saying, “Sorry, roach!” I was scared for my life! The roaches walk up and down the streets in Las Vegas! It’s really disgusting!
By Tluv on Nov 6, 2009