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Index of Bugs
The giant water bug belongs to the family Belostomatidae. They belong to a large group of insects called heteroptera, or “true” bugs.
Giant water bugs live in lakes and ponds and are very fast swimmers. They grab hold of plants near the surface of the water. Some species of giant water bugs are up two inches long. Giant water bugs push their two short breathing tubes out of the water to breathe air.
The wings of the giant water bug overlap at the back end of the abdomen. Giant water bugs are good fliers. This enables them to fly from pond to pond to look for better habitats.
The giant water bug hunts small fish, tadpoles, snails, insects and other invertebrates and catch their prey with their strong front legs. They have a beak adapted for piercing and sucking, which they use to inject a toxin into their prey to kill it. The soft internal organs of the prey are then digested and sucked up by the giant water bug with its beak. Giant water bugs are also called toe biters because they can cause painful stings or stabs with their “beak.”
The giant water bug’s back legs are flat and look like oars. They use these legs for swimming.
Some types of giant water bugs lay their eggs on water plants. In other species the males carry batches of eggs cemented to their backs until they hatch. This kind of back-brooding helps to ensure hatching success by reducing the risk of desiccation, increasing aeration, and providing protection from predators. However, carrying the eggs can make it more difficult for the male to swim.
The nymphs hatch in about 6 days. Giant water bugs go through several nymph stages for a month to six weeks. They have an incomplete metamorphosis.
To learn more about Giant water bugs and to see them in action, order the Backyard Bugs DVD.
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