Giant water bugs that can deliver painful bites are invading the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, a study has found.
Giant water bugs live in freshwater habitats such as ponds and marshes around the world, according to the National Park Service. They're equipped with pincer-like appendages and venomous saliva, which allows them to immobilize and suck the liquid out of their prey. These bugs are also known to bite unsuspecting humans between the toes, hence why they're called"toe-biters," though this bite is nontoxic and we're far too big to be their prey.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Seven giant water bugs were recorded on the eastern lowland part of the island, and the researchers went out and found two of these specimens. The retrieved bugs belonged to the species Lethocerus patruelis, which can grow to about 3 inches long. However, the team couldn't identify the remaining bugs' species from photos alone and so recorded them as Lethocerus.