Belostomatidae

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Common Name

Giant Water Bug

Scientific Name

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Belostomatidae

Lab Storage

Feeding

Proficient, voracious piercer-predators. Chases prey down and uses their powerful raptorial front legs to capture and hold down the prey while consuming it. They feed on a variety of aquatic insects, other arthropods, tadpoles, and even fish. For larger prey, they may ride the prey around until their poisonous salivary enzymes kill the prey.

Water Quality Tolerance

Very tolerant.

Fact

Usually 25-45mm, range 14-65mm. Their front legs are widened and elbowed for holding prey. Their front wings have veins. Dorsally, their eyes protrude out the sides of their head. They have a pair of appendages at the end of the abdomen for breathing. Their mid and hing legs are fringed with long hairs. For more photos, refer to our online gallery: tinyurl.com/vaybvbn

Habitat

Primarily lentic-littoral, some lotic-depositional. Commonly inhabit ponds, shores of lakes, marshes, ditches and small stream pools. Found among aquatic vegetation, terrestrial plants that droop over water and plant debris.

References

Voshell & Wright. 2002.