Family
Belostomatidae (Giant water bugs)
Lethocerus americanus. Photo: (c) John Christensen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Belostomatidae is a family of freshwater hemipteran insects known as giant water bugs or colloquially as toe-biters, Indian toe-biters, electric-light bugs, alligator ticks, or alligator fleas (in Florida). They are the largest insects in the order Hemiptera, and occur worldwide, with most of the species in North America, South America, Northern Australia, and East Asia. They are typically encountered in freshwater streams and ponds. Most species are at least 0.75 in (2 cm) long, although smaller species also…
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