WHAT IS A GIANT WATER BUG?
Giant Water Bugs are in the order Hemiptera which also includes assassin bugs, stink bugs, and many other insects. All insects in Hemiptera share a few characteristics, including piercing and sucking mouthparts, and wings which are membranous and clear at the tips, but hardened at the base. Giant water bugs have a unique appearance and are difficult to confuse with most other kinds of insects. Resembling a cross between a cockroach and a praying mantid, giant water bugs are brown and flat with large, raptorial (prey-grasping) front-legs. There are a few species of the closely-related water scorpions (family Nepidae) that resemble giant water bugs, but water scorpions always have a long, non-retractable breathing tube at the ends of their abdomens. Giant water bugs have a breathing tube as well, but it is much shorter and is usually retracted into the abdomen. Raptorial front legs of a giant water bug (B. Newton, 2002) Although some giant water bugs are very large (over 2 1/2″ long), no
