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Found this in my pool this evening. Is it a common bug in this area?
Found this in my pool this evening. Is it a common bug in this area?
What a cool find! Although this creature looks like something that would be found in a faraway exotic place, it is actually native to the United States and common in this area. Its name is not one that is hard to remember, as it perfectly fits its description: a Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus). This bug’s large forelegs are used to grab prey, which can consist of fish, tadpoles and insects. It consumes all sizes of prey by grasping them and injecting its venomous saliva into them to digest their internal liquid. My favorite fun fact is that the females lay their eggs on the back of the males, which the males then carry until the young safely hatch. Click here for a great website to learn more about these interesting critters, and thanks for sharing!
-Naturalist Nora Sindelar
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