page_title: Lethocerus
section_title: Species
hierarchical_section_title: Lethocerus / Species
caption_attribution_description: Lethocerus oculatus, a species only found in Madagascar. Giant water bugs have toxic saliva capable of provoking intense pain and paralysis in vertebrates, a fact that has led them to be named “toe-biters". Their bite is considered one of the most painful that can be inflicted by any insect. They are also known as “electric light bugs” as they are attracted to electric lights. Panasonic GX7 + Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH OIS
context_page_description: Lethocerus is a genus of the hemipteran family Belostomatidae, known colloquially as giant water bugs, distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas of the world. The greatest diversity of species occurs in the Americas, with only a single species in Europe, two in Africa, two in Australia and three in Asia. It includes the largest true bugs with species capable of reaching a length of over 12 centimetres. The South American L. grandis and L. maximus are the only species to commonly exceed 9 cm, with more typical lengths for the remaining species being between 4.5 and 9 cm. Lethocerus sp. are distinguished from other genera in the Lethocerinae 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.
context_section_description: As of 2006, this is an exhaustive listing of all known species of Lethocerus:
  Lethocerus americanus
  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
  In addition to these, Lethocerus deyrollei, which is one of the best known giant water bugs, has traditionally been included in this genus, but in 2006 it was moved to Kirkaldyia.
caption: There are two African species, L. oculatus of Madagascar (shown) and L. cordofanus of the mainland[2]
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