Giant Water Bugs

insects · freshwater · predators · hemiptera

Super sized swimmers. Giant water bugs are the biggest insects in their whole order, with some growing longer than 12 centimeters, about the length of your pinky finger to your wrist. That makes them almost as long as some of the world's largest beetles.

Found worldwide. These fierce hunters live in freshwater ponds, marshes, and slow streams all over the planet. More than half of all species hang out in Central and South America, but you can find them in Africa, North America, and other places too.

Painful pinch earned them a nickname. People call them 'toe-biters' because they will bite if you bother them in the water, and it really hurts. Some people also call them electric-light bugs because they're attracted to lights at night.

Food in some countries. In parts of Asia, especially Thailand and Cambodia, giant water bugs are considered a tasty snack and are sold at markets. People roast them or use them to make flavorful pastes and sauces.

Sneaky ambush hunters. These predators hide in the water and grab fish, tadpoles, and other insects that swim by. They use their strong front legs to hold prey while they pierce it with their sharp beak and suck out the insides.