| Lethocerus | |
|---|---|
| Lethocerus americanus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Family: | Belostomatidae |
| Subfamily: | Lethocerinae |
| Genus: | Lethocerus Mayr, 1853 |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Lethocerus is a genus of the hemipteran family Belostomatidae, known colloquially as giant water bugs, distributed throughout the tropical, subtropical and temperate areas of the world.[1][2] The greatest diversity of species occurs in the Americas. It includes the largest true bugs with species reaching a length of over 11 centimetres (4.3 in). Lethocerus sp. are distinguished from other genera in the Lethocerinae (Benacus and Kirkaldyia) by two symmetrical furrows in the inner pad of setae on the fore femur, the external borders of parasternites II and III narrowed and nearly straight, and with the setae of the tarsomeres following the line of the tibial setae.
Unlike giant water bugs in the subfamily Belostomatinae, females do not lay the eggs on the backs of males.[3] Instead, after copulation (often multiple sessions[3]) 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 male will then guard the eggs from predators and periodically bring water to the eggs to prevent their desiccation.
As of 2006[update], this is an exhaustive listing of all known species of Lethocerus:[2]