Bed Bug vs African Giant Water Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bed Bug | African Giant Water Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cimex lectularius | Lethocerus cordofanus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cimicidae | Belostomatidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 60-85 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Worldwide | East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bed Bug
Obligate blood-feeding parasites of humans. Can survive up to a year without feeding. Have made a dramatic worldwide resurgence due to pesticide resistance and increased travel.
Did You Know?
Bed bugs can survive without a blood meal for over a year and can withstand temperatures from near-freezing to 50°C, making them extraordinarily difficult to eliminate.
African Giant Water Bug
A massive aquatic predatory bug with powerful raptorial forelegs for catching prey. It can grow to over 80 mm and is one of the largest insects found in East African freshwater habitats.
Did You Know?
It can deliver an extremely painful bite with its piercing-sucking mouthparts, injecting enzymes that liquefy prey tissues for consumption.