88 
Psyche 
[April 
NOTES ON THE GIANT WATER BUGS 
(Lethocerus and Benacus — Belostomatidae Hemiptera) 
By H. B. Hungerford, 
University of Kansas. 
Tw o papers have appeared recently on Lethocerus ameri- 
canus Leidy. One by W. E. Hoffman 1 and the other by J. R. 
de la Torre-Bueno. 2 These remind me of some notes that were 
taken several years ago and may be of interest. In view of the 
rather wide popular interest in these huge “electric light bugs” 
it is strange that no one has given us a monograph of even the 
American forms. Benacus griseus Say and species of Lethocerus 
often attract attention as they fly about street lights and are 
sent to the entomologist for determination. A good key for the 
identification of these forms would be most acceptable. 
These notes concern the flight of giant water bugs at Law- 
rence, Kansas, in May 1920, and some notes on the hatching 
process in one species. We had occasion to use a large number 
of these bugs in our studies and, therefore, made some effort 
to collect them. The notes on the collection of insects about 
the street lights in May 1920 show periods when the Giant Water 
Bugs were most abundant in flight. 
Most of the collecting was done about two street lights. 
At 8th and Maine Streets 50 Benacus griseus Say were taken 
during the evening of May 5th. The bugs were brought to the 
laboratory alive in a cloth bag. They made a wheezing noise 
when disturbed and emitted a decidedly fishy odor. It will be 
noted below that Benacus griseus Say was much more abundant 
than Lethocerus americanus Leidy. 
X W. E. Hoffman, Biological Notes on Lethocerus americanus , Psyche 
XXXI, pp. 175-183, 1924- 
2 J. R. de la Torre-Bueno, The Last Moult in Lethocerus americanus Say 
Entom. News, Vol. XXXV, p. 369-370, 1924. 
