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Lethocerus patruelis is a giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae. It is native to southeastern Europe, through Southwest Asia, to Pakistan, India and Burma. [1] It is the largest European true bug and aquatic insect. [2] Adult females are typically 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in) long, while the adult males are 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in). [1]
Belostomatidae is a family of freshwater hemipteran insects known as giant water bugs or colloquially as toe-biters, Indian toe-biters, electric-light bugs (because they fly to lights in large numbers), alligator ticks, or alligator fleas (in Florida). They are the largest insects in the order Hemiptera. [1]
Lethocerus sp. with wings open. Unlike giant water bugs in the subfamily Belostomatinae, females do not lay the eggs on the backs of males. [4] Instead, after copulation (often multiple sessions [5]) the eggs are laid on emergent vegetation (rarely on man-made structures) high enough above the waterline that the eggs will not be permanently submerged.
The largest is the dobsonfly Acanthacorydalis fruhstorferi, which can have a wingspan of up to 21.6 cm (8.5 in), making it the largest aquatic insect in the world by this measurement. [38] This species is native to China and Vietnam, and its body can be up to 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long. [39]
The water bug or water beetle is known as alukap in Ilokano language. It is sauteed or fried in oil, garlic, onions and tomatoes, or roasted, after the wings and legs have been removed, and eaten as a viand for steamed rice or as a finger food with liquor. The same is done in the Visayas region where it is called obus in the Visayan language. [6]
Lethocerus insulanus is a large insect and among the largest of the belostomatids, with adults typically reaching a length of 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in). It is the largest true bug species in Australia. [1] It uses a posterior syphon like a snorkel to breathe underwater while hunting.
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Bugs of the genus Belostoma prefer lentic habitats with submerged or emergent vegetation and for overwintering the adults fly to ponds and slow-moving waters. During the springtime and the early summer they often fly to electric light-sources, thus they are also called "electric-light-bugs". [6] The life circle contains one generation a year.