Insect Orders
Family Belostomatidae: True Bugs
Belostoma flumineum
a.
b.
c.
d.
Lethocerus americanus
e.
Belostoma flumineum
- Common Name: Giant Water Bug
- Identifying Features: The hemelytron of the forewing is large and easily visible (Figure d.)
- Size of Mature Adult: 2.2cm
- Habitat: Submergent vegetation of ponds and lakes
- Other Information: When swimming they keep their raptorial fore arms pointed forward
- Figures
- Common Name: Giant Water Bug
- Identifying Features: The tibia and tarsus are much broader then the tibia and tarsus of the middle leg and its large size.
- Size of Mature Adult: About 8cm
- Habitat: Lakes and rivers
- Other Information: Can periodically be found in smaller ponds, and are sometimes attracted to outdoor lights at night.
- Figures:
e. Drawing of mature adult from An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Pg 270
a. Nymph
b. Dorsal view of adult
c. Vental view of adult
d. Membrane of the hemelytron
Lethocerus americanus