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Belostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug Adult Pictures



 I'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.

This giant water bug was collected from the West Branch of Owego Creek on April 24th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com on April 24th, 2007.

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Belostoma and other Hemiptera bugs aren't fully aquatic, and when I stuck this one in my aquarium it quickly crawled out of the water and up to the highest point, a pair of tiny mushrooms growing on a soggy log.  Belostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug Adult from the West Branch of Owego Creek in New York
This is one of my favorite pictures. Belostoma and other Hemiptera bugs aren't fully aquatic, and when I stuck this one in my aquarium it quickly crawled out of the water and up to the highest point, a pair of tiny mushrooms growing on a soggy log.
The bottom side of this bug was quite shiny, maybe iridescent, but in a way that's hard to capture in a photo.  I tried to do it with this one but it doesn't show up well.  It was very hard to photograph this thing's bottom side at all, because it was so quick and adept at flipping itself back over.  Belostoma flumineum (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug Adult from the West Branch of Owego Creek in New York
The bottom side of this bug was quite shiny, maybe iridescent, but in a way that's hard to capture in a photo. I tried to do it with this one but it doesn't show up well. It was very hard to photograph this thing's bottom side at all, because it was so quick and adept at flipping itself back over.

Recent Discussions of this Adult

Check this bug out 8 Replies »
Posted by Troutnut on Apr 24, 2007
Last reply on Dec 10, 2009 by Jmd123
This is a new favorite specimen of mine.

I'll have a video up featuring this one showing its swimming posture, too.
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