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What the sources say

Giant Water BugLethocerus americanus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Giant Water Bug profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 48 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Hoffman 1924

Hoffman (1924). Biological Notes on Lethocerus americanus (Leidy). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology.

The page saysstabs fish and tadpoles with its beak
The source saysthe bug raised up and sunk its beak into the top of the fish's headNote: tagline; fish. Tadpole: second entry
The page saystadpoles
The source saysAt the end of an hour nothing remained of the tadpole but the shriveled skinNote: tagline, tadpoles
The page saysPonds, sloughs and small streams
The source saysIt was taken while dredging at the edge of a pondNote: stats.habitat; pond (nymph)
The page sayssmall streams
The source saysThey were found near St. Paul in a small stream connecting two lakes.Note: stats.habitat; stream (adults, winter)
The page sayssloughs
The source saysHe found giant waterbugs guarding their eggs on the bank of a small slough.Note: stats.habitat; slough
The page saysYoung fish, tadpoles, young frogs and insects
The source saysThe nymph fed greedily upon beefsteak, grasshoppers, tadpoles, young frogs, young fish, flies and other things that were offered.Note: stats.diet; a captive nymph. Insects: grasshoppers, flies
The page saysA young bug reduced a tadpole bigger than itself to shriveled skin in an hour
The source saystwo tadpoles considerably larger than the nymph were secured, so one of these was offered. At the end of an hour nothing remained of the tadpole but the shriveled skinNote: stats.superpower; body
The page saysAn hour later, nothing was left but shriveled skin.
The source saysAt the end of an hour nothing remained of the tadpole but the shriveled skin
The page saysA second big tadpole got the same treatment.
The source saysThe second tadpole was then offered to the bug with the same result.
The page saysIn 1923 a Minnesota entomologist named William Hoffman gave a young bug
The source saysOn July first, 1923, a large Lethocerus nymph was secured from a small pond near University Farm campus.Note: author line: William E. Hoffman, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
The page saysIn a Montana account that Hoffman passed on, a giant water bug lay at the surface waving one leg.
The source saysa giant waterbug lying aimlessly on the surface of the water, except for one leg which it appeared to be wavingNote: 'Montana': Professor J. R. Parker of the University of Montana; Ovando, Montana
The page saysA trout about ten or twelve inches long grabbed the leg, and the bug sank its beak into the top of the fish's head.
The source saysa trout about ten or twelve inches in length ... the trout grabbed the waterbug by the leg that had been moving whereupon the bug raised up and sunk its beak into the top of the fish's head.
The page saysThe trout swam in circles, leapt clear of the water several times and finally rolled onto its back.
The source saysThe trout began to swim excitedly in circles and jumped clear of the water several times. It finally turned over on its back.
The page saysHoffman had always supposed Lethocerus, the genus this bug belongs to, would kill out of a vicious nature whether hungry or not.
The source saysI had always supposed Lethocerus would kill because of a vicious nature, whether hungry or not.
The page saysHis adults, though, would not kill unless hungry enough to eat what they killed
The source saysAdults likewise would not kill food excepting when they were hungry enough to eat what they killed.
The page saysone bug refused food the day after a meal of two sizeable trout
The source saysThe bug would refuse ... to take food the day following a meal of two sizeable trout.
The page saysA Montana professor found giant water bugs guarding eggs stuck to a grassy bank about a foot above the water of a small slough.
The source saysThe eggs were stuck to the grassy bank about a foot above the water.Note: He found giant waterbugs guarding their eggs on the bank of a small slough; adult determined as Lethocerus americanus Leidy
The page saysHoffman judged there was one generation a year.
The source saysUndoubtedly there is but one generation per year
The page saysHoffman collected bugs from a small pond and a small stream.
The source saysIn December of 1921 several specimens of this species were taken from their winter quarters by the writer.
The page saysThese bugs are strong fliers and are often caught at night.
The source saysLethocerus adults are strong fliers ... Since these bugs are frequently taken at night
The page saysHoffman found bugs in a stream bed in December, buried about five or six inches deep in a layer of decayed plant material.
The source saysIn the center of the stream they were found buried some five or six inches deep in the layer of ... plant material forming the bed of the stream.Note: December of 1921
The page saysThey looked dead, but they responded to the warmth of his hands with slight movements.
The source saysThe bugs appeared to be dead when first taken but they soon responded to the warmth of the hands as shown by slight movements.
The page saysbugs Hoffman dug up in December looked dead until the warmth of his hands made them stir
The source saysThe bugs appeared to be dead when first taken but they soon responded to the warmth of the hands as shown by slight movements.Note: vibe.reason

Source
02

DuBois & Gobin 2001

DuBois & Gobin (2001). Winter Drift, Sex Ratios, and Size Distribution of Giant Water Bugs, Lethocerus americanus, (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) in a Lake Superior Tributary. The Great Lakes Entomologist.

The page saysfemales averaged 56.5 mm and males 50.7 mm
The source saysFemales averaged 56.5 mm in total length (range 51-63 mm), and males 50.7 mm (range 47-56 mm).Note: Wisconsin trout hatchery; about two inches = 50.7 to 56.5 mm (2.0 to 2.2 in)
The page saysAdults drifting into a Wisconsin trout hatchery were about two inches long
The source saysFemales averaged 56.5 mm in total length (range 51-63 mm), and males 50.7 mm (range 47-56 mm).Note: 2.0 to 2.2 inches converted
The page saysresearchers collected more than 2,100 adults drifting onto its screens between December 1991 and May 1997
The source saysMore than 2,100 adult, drifting giant water bugs (Lethocerus americanus) were collected from the upstream face of the uppermost raceway screens at a run-of-river trout hatchery on a Wisconsin tributary to Lake Superior during December 1991 May 1997.
The page saysDrifting peaked between mid-October and March, when the water was below 4 degrees Celsius.
The source saysThis drift was greatest from mid-October through March at water lower than 4° C
The page saysThe authors suggest winter is when the bugs disperse after their final molt, to cut the risk of being eaten.
The source saysWe suggest that the drift of these insects is best explained as a dispersal mechanism following the final molt and that winter is selected for dispersal to mini-mize predation risks.
The page saysIn a Wisconsin trout hatchery, drifting adults averaged 56.5 mm long for females (51 to 63 mm) and 50.7 mm for males (47 to 56 mm).
The source saysFemales averaged 56.5 mm in total length (range 51-63 mm), and males 50.7 mm (range 47-56 mm).Note: FAQ

Source
03

UF/IFAS Featured Creatures, University of Florida

Giant Water Bugs, Electric Light Bugs, Lethocerus, Abedus, Belostoma (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). UF/IFAS Featured Creatures, University of Florida.

The page saysfrom Newfoundland and Maine to British Columbia, south to Utah, Nevada, Mexico and Florida
The source saysLethocerus americanus (Leidy)—Newfoundland, Maine to British Columbia, south to Utah and Nevada, Mexico, Florida.Note: stats.habitat and body range
The page saysGiant water bugs as a group inject powerful enzymes, proteins that break food down, into their prey to kill it.
The source saysPowerful enzymes are injected into prey to kill them.Note: family scope, worded as such; the gloss of enzymes is a definition
The page saysThe giant water bug family has the largest bodies among the Heteroptera
The source saysThese large, predatory, aquatic insects have the largest body size among the Heteroptera.Note: family scope; 'true bugs' per ITIS: Heteroptera - true bugs, not separately cited
The page saysLethocerus bugs lay eggs above the water.
The source saysEggs of Lethocerus are deposited above water on vegetation and other objects.
The page saysIn giant water bugs generally, eggs hatch in one to two weeks and total development takes one to two months.
The source saysEggs hatch in one to two weeks, with total development time ranging from one to two months.
The page saysThe family's nickname, electric light bugs, comes from mating-season flights from pond to pond, when the bugs fly to lights in large numbers.
The source saysDuring mating season they fly from pond to pond or pool of water. It is during these flights that these insects fly to lights in large numbers, earning their other common name, "electric light bugs".
The page saysMembers of the giant water bug family can inflict a painful bite with their strong beak
The source saysIndividuals are capable of inflicting a painful bite with their strong beak and may also pinch with their front legs.
The page saysadults of the genus Lethocerus are eaten in Asia, both fresh and cooked
The source saysAdults of Lethocerus are considered a delicacy in Asia, and are eaten both fresh and cooked.
The page saysA University of Florida guide to the giant water bug family says its members can give a painful bite with that strong beak, and may pinch with their front legs as well.
The source saysIndividuals are capable of inflicting a painful bite with their strong beak and may also pinch with their front legs.Note: FAQ
The page saysThe family's other name, "electric light bugs", comes from the mating season, when the bugs travel between ponds and arrive at lights in large numbers.
The source saysDuring mating season they fly from pond to pond or pool of water. It is during these flights that these insects fly to lights in large numbers, earning their other common name, "electric light bugs".Note: FAQ; Quebec sentence cut (its source was drapeau-2021, not this ref)
The page saysThis species ranges from Newfoundland and Maine to British Columbia, and south to Utah, Nevada, Mexico and Florida.
The source saysLethocerus americanus (Leidy)—Newfoundland, Maine to British Columbia, south to Utah and Nevada, Mexico, Florida.
The page saysGiant water bugs fly to lights in such numbers that the family's other name is electric light bugs
The source saysthese insects fly to lights in large numbers, earning their other common name, "electric light bugs"Note: vibe.reason
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysIndividuals are capable of inflicting a painful bite with their strong beakNote: Medium is 'Can injure, but rarely seriously'; a painful bite is an injury, so Low ('effectively harmless') does not fit

Source
04

Schumann, Cavallaro & Hoback 2012

Schumann, Cavallaro & Hoback (2012). Size Selective Predation of Fish by Hydrophilis triangularis (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) and Lethocerus americanus (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.

The page saysadult giant water bugs ate 0.13 fish per day, and took more of the adult-sized fish than the juveniles
The source saysEach of the insect predators consumed a significantly greater number of mosquitofish from the adult size class with giant water-bugs consuming 0.13 fish per dayNote: FAQ
The page saysThe authors warn that insect predation on small fish species could be substantial and may change the make-up of fish populations.
The source saysInsect predation of small fish species could be substantial and because size selective pressures exist, population structure of fish populations may be affected.

Source
05

Drapeau Picard et al. 2021

Drapeau Picard et al. (2021). “What’s This Bug?” Questions from the Public Provide Relevant Information on Species Distribution and Human–Insect Interactions. Insects.

The page saysand is drawn to lights
The source saysis attracted to lightsNote: tagline; Quebec, species scope
The page saysIn Quebec, this species is attracted to lights and is often found in swimming pools.
The source saysthe giant water bug L. americanus, which is remarkable in size, is attracted to lights and is often found in swimming poolsNote: Quebec: 'surprised that such large insects could be found in Québec'

Source
06

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Lethocerus americanus (Leidy, 1847). Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

The page saysthe Heteroptera, the true bugs
The source saysSuborder Heteroptera Latreille, 1810 - true bugsNote: definition of Heteroptera, from the ITIS hierarchy
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysLethocerus americanus (Leidy, 1847)Note: stats.conservationStatus. No Red List assessment: the prefetch found no assessment DOI and GBIF's copy of the Red List has no category for Lethocerus americanus. ITIS is cited for the species name only. Precedent european-harvestman.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.