Giant Water Bugs

Family Belostomatidae

Giant water bug (Lethocerus americanus). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

The adults and larvae are predaceous, and feed on other insects, snails, tadpoles and small fish. They are sometimes called electric light bugs because they are attracted to lights, and they frequently leave the water and fly. The can inflict a painful bite if handled carelessly. In some species, the males carry the eggs on their backs until they hatch. Belostomatidae are the largest bugs of the order Hemiptera and among the largest insects in North America. They are elongate, oval and somewhat flattened. The front legs are raptorial to catch their prey, while the hind legs are flattened and used in swimming.her species the eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation.