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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Aquatic Bugs (Nepomorpha) » Nepoidea » Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae)

Family Belostomatidae - Giant Water Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Lethocerus americanus - Giant Water Bug - Front View - Lethocerus medius

Abedus herberti oviposition - Abedus herberti - male - female

Buffalo Belostoma - Belostoma flumineum - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Nepomorpha (Aquatic Bugs)

Superfamily Nepoidea

Family Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bugs)

Other Common Names

Electric Light Bugs, Toe Biters, Fish Killers

Explanation of Names

Belostomatidae Leach 1815

Numbers

19 spp. in 3 genera in our area(1), ~160 spp. in 9 genera worldwide(2)

Size

the largest heteropterans: 13‒75 mm(3); 9‒110+ mm globally(2)

Identification

Illustrated keys in (1)(3)(4)(5)(6)

Range

widespread(1), most diverse in the tropics(7); in our area, across the US and adjacent Canada, but more diverse in so. US

Habitat

ponds, shallow margins of lakes and rivers with submerged vegetation and detritus(1)

Food

aquatic arthropods, snails, small fish and amphibians(7); can attack prey many times their size(2)

Remarks

Come to lights. Can deliver a painful bite.

Internet References

Fact sheet (Choate & Buss 2003)(8)

Works Cited

1.	Aquatic Insects of North America R. W. Merritt, K. W. Cummins, M.B. Berg. 2008. Kendall/Hunt.

2.	Biodiversity of the Heteroptera Henry T.J. 2009. In: Foottit R.G., Adler P.H., eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell: 223−263.

3.	Identification manual for the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Florida Epler J.H. 2006. FL Dept. Env. Prot., Tallahassee, FL. 186 pp.

4.	How to Know the True Bugs Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M. 1978. Wm. C. Brown Company.

5.	Choate P.M. () Giant water bugs, electric light bugs, Lethocerus, Abedus, Belostoma (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)

6.	Bright E. (2002-2011) Aquatic Insects of Michigan

7.	What Bug Is That? The guide to Australian insect families

8.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 12 March, 2005 - 2:43pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Lynette Elliott, Mike Quinn, Eric C. Maxwell, v belov, metrioptera
Last updated 9 October, 2023 - 1:53pm

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