Morphological and Molecular Identification of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) Specimen Collected in Close Proximity to Humans in Southern Italy.

Abstract

The Belostomatidae is a family of aquatic Heteropteran insects that normally inhabit swamps of tropical, subtropical and temperate regions where they naturally feed on a large range of prey, mainly fish, amphibians and reptiles. However, these arthropods can occasionally bite humans when provoked, causing pain. The only species of giant water bug known to be found in Europe is Lethocerus (L.) patruelis. We reported the finding of a specimen of female L. patruelis in Southern Italy. The arthropod was collected by a tourist on his body while he lying down on a beach close to a nature reserve. To finalize the giant water bug identification, both morphological and molecular tools were used for the first time in our country. Herein, information on cases of patients bitten by giant water bugs belonging to the Belostomatidae family are reported, and circumstances involving their contact with humans are also discussed.