Intriguing Metal Item

[Nu2Poo]

Hello All,
I'm hoping one of the knowledgable folks here can give out any info on this. I dug it at an 1850's long gone homesite. It seems to be a really big American Water Bug. Beyond that, I,m stumped.
Thanks in advance.
Steve

 

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[Keith Jackson]

If it were larger, I would go with paperweight.

 

[Carolina Tom]

giant water bugs, electric light bugs - Lethocerus, Abedus, Abedus (Das)

Certainly a Giant Water Bug. Anatomically correct too. That is very puzzling.

 

[btjbtj]

He's nifty! Would serve well as a Creepy garden ornament. -Lisa

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I wonder if it could have been depicting a scarab beetle?

 

[Bruce R]

Looks like the front legs hooked over something.

 

[ARC]

Looks like one of those "bugs" from the day the earth stood still.... errr or was that war of the worlds ? ? ?

 

[doublet2a]

Are there any attachment points on the back?
I'm thinking an old broach. Check out these pics

Tim

anique waterbug broach - Bing images

 

[CRUSADER]

Paper weight, I thinks...