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GWI learned my lesson, never try to pick up a giant water bug. I have always heard people claiming that their bite is extremely painful, but actually, the bite itself is not the worst part. Though obviously it does hurt a bit, it’s the swelling and itching you experience the next day which is the most excruciating.
Giant water bugs, also known as “toe biters” are Hemipterans in the family Belostomatidae. They are aquatic predatory insects, usually found in ponds and other still bodies of water. The nymphs feed on aquatic arthropods and small fish. They use their piercing, sucking mouthparts to inject venom into their prey to paralyze them, then suck the liquids out. They will also use their venom to defend themselves.
The adults leave the water and fly to find mates and disperse. After mating, the female lays her eggs on the male’s wings to protect them before they hatch. It’s really cool finding males with eggs on their back!
There are many species of Belostomatids, and various sizes. This species is one of the largest, Lethocerus maximus.
#belostomatidae #entomology #entomologist #insects #insect #bugs
@gwentomologist
