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. The greatest diversity of species occurs in the Americas

Americas

The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...

. 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.

Habits

Unlike giant water bugs in the subfamily Belostomatinae, females do not lay the eggs on the backs of males. Instead, after copulation (often multiple sessions) 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

Desiccation

Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...

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Species

, this is an exhaustive listing of all known species of Lethocerus:

• Lethocerus americanus
  Lethocerus americanus
  Lethocerus americanus is a giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae, native to North America. It was originally classified as a species in genus Belostoma.- Habits :...
  
  
• Lethocerus angustipe
• Lethocerus annulipes
• Lethocerus bruchi
• Lethocerus camposi
• Lethocerus collosicus
• Lethocerus cordofanus
• Lethocerus delpontei
• Lethocerus dilatus
• Lethocerus distinctifemur
• Lethocerus grandis
• Lethocerus indicus
• Lethocerus insulanus
• Lethocerus jimenezasuai
• Lethocerus maximus
• Lethocerus mazzai
• Lethocerus medius
• Lethocerus melloleitaoi
• Lethocerus oculatus
• Lethocerus patruelis
• Lethocerus truxali
• Lethocerus uhleri