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Giant water bug

Belostoma flumineum

Photo by Aaron_G
Published on Project Noah
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28.9025, -82.5926

Field Notes

Description:

A dorso-ventrally flattened, predatory true bug with raptorial forelegs and piercing mouthparts.

Habitat:

Slow-moving waterways with plenty of vegetation. Range: Quebec and New England, west to Manitoba and Colorado, southwest to Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona.

Notes:

One of eight species of Belostomatidae known to occur in Florida

Reference Links:

Species Belostoma flumineum - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
Aaron_G
No, it was well behaved. The only Belostomatid that's ever poked me was an adult Lethocerus americanus. I had detained it for a while for photos and was carrying it to a nearby river for release when it got me. I had been carrying it in a cupped hand and it had had enough of me. :-)
Latimeria
These can give a nasty bite. I hope it trusted you enough not to respond in kind.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Global Flight
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 27, 2012

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