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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae) » Lethocerus
Photo#114629
Flying bug with claws - Lethocerus
Copyright © 2007 mmihm

Flying bug with claws - Lethocerus
Minnesota, USA
June 1, 2007
Size: Over 3"
I have never seen anything like this before. This is the biggest flying bug I have ever come accross. It was about 3" or more and flew onto my front step at night. If anyone knows what this is please let me know.
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Contributed by mmihm on 1 June, 2007 - 11:22pm
Last updated 6 June, 2007 - 9:07pm

This is a Giant Water Bug, Ab
This is a Giant Water Bug, Abedus indentatus. The females lay their eggs on the male's back, he carries them until they hatch. Women's lib in bugs! :)
… Kris Light, 3 June, 2007 - 7:46pm login or register to post comments

 
Wrong.
This is in the genus Lethocerus, and the males in that genus do NOT guard the eggs. The females lay eggs on vegetation above the water line and guard them. Apologies for an enthusiastic, but uninformed first response from Kris.
… Eric R. Eaton, 4 June, 2007 - 5:00pm login or register to post comments

 
Ooops! Sorry about the misidentification!
That's the problem with many insects, so many of them look alike! It looks much like the giant water bugs I saw in Florida that did have eggs on their backs. I'm sorry about the misidentification, but not being an entomologist, it's easy to make an honest mistake!
… Kris Light, 4 June, 2007 - 5:44pm login or register to post comments

Giant Water Bug
http://bugguide.net/node/view/13708
… Perry Babin, 1 June, 2007 - 11:27pm login or register to post comments

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