Family Belostomatidae
The Giant Waterbugs – the South African species, of which there are 7, grow up to 9cm long! – are fierce insect predators that inhabit well vegetated ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams. These insects store air in a chamber underneath their wings allowing them to stay submerged while hunting for prey. They’ll catch and devour anything that they can overpower, including insects, tadpoles, frogs and fish. The adults are strong fliers and often attracted to outside lights. In five of the local species the male carries the eggs on his back until the larvae hatch, which is why they’re also called Brooding Waterbugs, while the remaining two species simply attach their eggs to vegetation.
Giant / Wrestling Waterbug (Lethocerus niloticus)
Great Waterbug (Hydrocyrius columbiae)
Great Waterbug (Hydrocyrius columbiae)
DeWetsWild 
I’m glad we didn’t see any of these on our journey, Dries!
They’re especially scary when they land in your neck, John…
they are huge
Enormous, Gavin!
Now you are really digging deep!
Digging, or diving, Anne!? 😀
He he he 🙂 🙂 🙂
I could pass on having one on my house. 😳
I would too, especially if I had a fish pond!
Waterskilpadjies, is dit nie wat ons hul genoem het nie? Ons het altyd by vriende in hul sement dam geswem. Ek verbeel my hul brand mens as hul tussen jou swemklere en vel vasgedruk word as mens in die water swem. Interessant dat mannetjies eiers op sy rug dra tot hul uitkom..
Ek vermoed hierdie besies is veel groter as die waaraan jy dink, Ineke – hierdie is langer as n vinger – en ek sou nie in dieselfde water as hulle wou swem nie! 😀
Beslis baie groter. Ek sal ook nie hul wil uittoets nie.