Insect · GBIF taxon 2007585
Lethocerus americanus
lethocerus americanusAlso known as Electric Light Bug, Toe Biter, Fish Killer
These massive aquatic insects prowl freshwater ponds and slow streams, lurking among vegetation to ambush prey as large as small fish and frogs. Strong raptorial front legs clasp victims tightly while a sharp rostrum injects digestive saliva that liquifies internal tissues. Adults fly efficiently at night and often gather around outdoor lights far from water.
AquaticPredatoryNocturnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tadpoles
- Small Fish
- Aquatic Insects
Predators
- Herons
- Large Fish
- Bullfrogs
ThreatsWater pollution, wetland loss, and artificial light disruption
HabitatsPonds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams
Life span1 to 2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyBelostomatidae
- GenusLethocerus
- Specieslethocerus americanus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Delivers a notoriously painful bite if handled; observe safely from a distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Injects digestive enzymes through a sharp beak when handled or stepped on, causing intense localized pain and swelling.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Large brown, flattened insect 5 to 6 cm long with pincer-like front legs and a short beak.
- What to do
- Do not pick up with bare hands; use a bucket or container if moving one off a walkway.
Responsible observation
- Light Attraction: Look for adults around outdoor lights and gas station parking lots during warm summer nights.
- Safe Distance: Avoid picking up specimens by hand because their defensive bite is extremely painful.
- Pond Scanning: Shine a flashlight into calm pond margins at night to watch them hunt near the surface.
Prey "Green Frog" by AER Wilmington DE is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Predator (c) Basar, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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