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Giant Water Bug Genus Belostoma (Toebiters)

Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Hemiptera (True Bugs)
» Family Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bugs)
» Genus Belostoma (Toebiters)
Species in BelostomaNumber of SpecimensNumber of Pictures
Belostoma flumineumElectric Light Bug217

8 species aren't included.
Common Name
MatchCommon Name
**Toebiters
Pictures Below

2 Giant Water Bug Specimens in the Genus Belostoma:

Belostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug AdultBelostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug AdultView 13 PicturesI'm glad I finally got one of these Belostoma water bugs under my good camera. I had been hoping to get one in my kick-net samples for a while with no luck, but I ended up finding this one drifting midstream just below the surface while I fished. I have frequently seen water scorpions do that, too, and I'm beginning to suspect that is a common situation travel for these large Hemiptera bugs, and perhaps the way trout are used to seeing them.
Region: Northeast
Collected Apr 24, 2007
Added Apr 25, 2007
Belostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug AdultBelostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug AdultView 4 PicturesI haven't seen the imitation of these things stressed, but in August 2003 on one of my favorite rivers the largest brown trout I kept had stomachs full of these things.
Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jan 13, 2004
Added Jan 25, 2006

Recent Discussions of Belostoma

Anyone else find these to be important? 2 Replies »
Posted by Troutnut on Jul 26, 2006 in the species Belostoma flumineum
Last reply on Oct 9, 2006 by GONZO
Back when I was just starting to learn to fly fish and still kept quite a few fish, I autopsied the stomachs of a couple 17-19 inch brown trout in August and found them packed with these Belostoma flumineum bugs.

I haven't tied a reasonable imitation yet, but if those fish (from a few miles apart on the same river) were so fond of them an imitation is probably a great idea. It would be good to figure out where and when these things are important.

None of the fly fishing literatue I've seen has dealt with them at all, except for mentioning their existence in passing.
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