Jennifer Frazer in her Artful Amoeba Blog for Scientific American provides a good profile on the opportunistic assassin known commonly as the Giant water bug. This insect was found in my pool skimmer basket this summer 2015. I found a smaller juvenile water bug later this summer. The bite of this insect can be painful and caution is advised when handling them.
Giant water bugs (Belostomatidae family) Lethocerus americanus are attracted to lights. It's amazing that an insect 4 inches in length can fly. During my youth I saw one in my front yard in at my house and added it to my 4-H entomology collection . There was no water around so it appeared to be out of place. More information is available from the Texas Master Gardner's Beneficial insect page.
Giant Water Bug life cycle - 1 min.
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