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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)

Family Belostomatidae - Giant Water Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Works Cited
Eastern Toe-Biter - Lethocerus griseus Giant Water Bug - Lethocerus americanus Lethocerus species - Lethocerus griseus Lethocerus sp. - Lethocerus uhleri Orange?! Giant Water Bug Nymph Lethocerus americanus 5th instar - Lethocerus americanus Toe biter - Lethocerus americanus Lethocerus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bugs)
Other Common Names
Electric Light Bugs, Toe Biters, Fish Killers
Numbers
19 spp. in 3 genera in NA(1)
Size
13-75mm (Abedus are 13-15mm, Belostoma, 15-30mm, and Lethocerus, 40mm or more)(2)
Identification
Illustrated keys provided in(1)(3)(2)(4)(5)
Range
widespread(1)
Habitat
ponds, shallow margins of lakes and rivers with submerged vegetation and detritus(1)
Food
aquatic arthropods, snails, small fish, salamanders, frogs and toads (adult Belostoma sp. feeding on snail)
Works Cited
1.Aquatic Insects of North America
By R. W. Merritt, K. W. Cummins, M.B. Berg
2.Identification manual for the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Florida
By John H. Epler
3.How to Know the True Bugs
By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.
4.Giant Water Bugs, Electric Light Bugs, Lethocerus, Abedus, Belostoma (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), by Paul M. Choate
5.Aquatic Insects of Michigan, by Ethan Bright
Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 12 March, 2005 - 2:43pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, v belov
Last updated 2 February, 2010 - 11:53am

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