About Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854)
Lethocerus patruelis is a species of giant water bug. These are large insects with coloration ranging from brown to green, which helps them camouflage effectively in their native environment. Their bodies are elliptical to oblong, and flattened from the dorsal to ventral side. Some individuals of this species can grow up to 8 centimeters in length, while other species in the same genus can reach up to 12 centimeters. Like all other members of the Cryptocerata suborder, this species has short antennae that are not visible from the outside. The first pair of legs is specialized for catching and holding prey. The hemelytra are large, and cover almost the entire abdomen. A second pair of wings lies beneath the hemelytra, which allows these large insects to fly and migrate between different bodies of water when local conditions become unsuitable. At the tip of the abdomen, there are two tubular spiracles. These structures let the insect absorb oxygen from the air at the water surface, while the rest of its body stays submerged waiting for prey. This species inhabits a large geographic range that extends from southeastern Europe and the southern Balkan Peninsula, through Asia Minor, Pakistan, and India, all the way to Myanmar. Due to recent climate change, this species has been observed expanding its range northward within the Balkan Peninsula.
