giant water bug
noun
: any of a family (Belostomatidae and especially genus Lethocerus) of very large predatory aquatic bugs capable of inflicting a painful bite
Examples of giant water bug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Insect parental care is rare, but male giant water bugs protect eggs from predation.
—
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2024
Adventurous eaters can try the roasted pork belly, which features a giant water bug called maeng da, a local delicacy, grilled in its shell, the flesh scooped out and mixed into the chili paste that tops the meat.
—Jenny Adams, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023
But such assaults are emerging from the shadows: recent studies have documented praying mantises regularly eating small birds, as well as giant water bugs consuming vertebrates such as turtles, frogs and snakes in Japanese rice fields.
—Sandrine Ceurstemont, Scientific American, 15 Jan. 2020
Adventurous eaters may even be tempted to try their taste buds on more exotic offerings like giant water bugs, black soldier fly larvae or tarantulas.
—Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, 31 July 2019
For instance, in 2011, Ohba reported the first observation of a giant water bug preying on a turtle.
—National Geographic, 3 Apr. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2024
Adventurous eaters can try the roasted pork belly, which features a giant water bug called maeng da, a local delicacy, grilled in its shell, the flesh scooped out and mixed into the chili paste that tops the meat.
—Jenny Adams, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023
But such assaults are emerging from the shadows: recent studies have documented praying mantises regularly eating small birds, as well as giant water bugs consuming vertebrates such as turtles, frogs and snakes in Japanese rice fields.
—Sandrine Ceurstemont, Scientific American, 15 Jan. 2020
Adventurous eaters may even be tempted to try their taste buds on more exotic offerings like giant water bugs, black soldier fly larvae or tarantulas.
—Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, 31 July 2019
For instance, in 2011, Ohba reported the first observation of a giant water bug preying on a turtle.
—National Geographic, 3 Apr. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Giant water bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giant%20water%20bug. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share