Where do female giant water bugs lay eggs?

Giant water bugs belong to the family Belostomatidae. They are the “true bugs” in order Hemiptera. By appearance, they are oval-shaped insects. They are brown in color and look large and flat. Their front legs are impressive. Giant Water Bugs are abbreviated as GWBs. They are of different sizes, the small ones, and the giant ones. 

The size of small-sized giant water bugs is about one and a half-inch whereas the size of a giant water bug is more than two and a half inches. The genus of giant water bugs is Lethocerus and Benecus). The giant water bugs may squeak a bit, and their smell resembles apples. 

Giant water bugs live quietly in the shallow water. They like to live in shallow vegetative parts. They are climber swimmers. Usually, they hang themselves with their head down on aquatic plants. They bring themselves very close to the surface so they can easily reach there. Their short breathing tubes help them reach the surface. 

Where do female giant water bugs lay eggs?

These short and retractable breathing tubes help them to breathe by pulling atmospheric air inside. There is extra space under their wings where they store atmospheric air. This stored air helps them to breathe when they dive deeper into the water. 

Giant water bugs are good at laying eggs. The female giant water bug lays eggs on the vegetative part of shallow water. After egg-laying, the male giant water bug is responsible for protecting these eggs. 

They lay eggs just above the waterline. The male giant water bugs work hard to protect their eggs. They climb up to the stem of the plant and try its best to protect the eggs from the predators. They also try to keep the eggs moist. The moisture is necessary to keep the eggs nourished and healthy. 

On average, a female giant water bug lays up to 150 eggs in her lifetime. Their eggs are at higher risk for predation and cannibalism. When we talk about the other genera of giant water bugs, the male giant water bug eggs come as carry out, and the female giant water bugs stick more than 100 eggs on their back. 

These female giant water bugs then travel and find a second partner having less baggage on their back. These female giant water bugs keep protecting their eggs for a week or two. They keep exposing their eggs to water and air for better nourishment. They use their hind legs to stroke them. 

This stroking helps to circulate water over the eggs. The other purpose of these strokes is to remove fungus from the surface of the eggs. The fungus can be proved fatal for the eggs. 

The interesting thing about these giant water bugs is eating their own eggs. The female giant water bugs try to destroy the eggs and drink their fluid, but male giant water bugs protect them. When the male giant water bugs fail to protect the eggs, they mate with the attacking female. 

The attacking female destroys all the existing eggs and then after mating lay new ones. Male bugs are again at duty to protect them. 

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