True Bug? - Lethocerus - BugGuide.Net

My boyfriend and I came acros

My boyfriend and I came across this bug last night. We are in New Jersey, walking through the cow fields; this bug was booking towards the swamp, so it seemed. It was as large as my palm. Neither one of us had ever seen anything like it before. Decided not to pick it up though, definetly looked like it had a nasty bite.

… _d22b_, 12 July, 2007 - 7:50am

True Bug

It probably is Lethocerus americanus, a kind of True bug

… Chris Wirth, 18 May, 2005 - 5:18pm

Ditto

These often come to lights -- especially UV lights. Be careful handling them when alive. They are said to be able to inflict a painful "bite" ("jab" with their sharp proboscis is more like it).

… Jim McClarin, 18 May, 2005 - 4:02am

yes, true bug

A Giant Water Bug. I think only Lethocerus americanus gets this large; some grow up to 65 mm. More photos and info in Guide.

… Robin McLeod, 18 May, 2005 - 12:42am

then again...

notice the hind tibia in your other photo - would you say that its outer margin is "broadly curved", as described for L. griseus in the key here? The same key says "width of hind tarsal segment 1 greater than least interocular distance" (distance between eyes) for griseus. The hind tarsi look pretty fat - moreso than the other Lethocerus photos in the Guide. Could this be L. griseus?

… Robin McLeod, 19 May, 2005 - 1:52am

I agree

The other photo's hind tibia does look curved to me.

… Lynette Schimming, 19 May, 2005 - 2:33pm