The New Student's Reference Work/Water-Bug

Water-Bug, the name for a number of aqueous insects inhabiting the streams and ponds of the United States. They belong to the order of true bugs, that is, they have the mouth-parts in the form of a sharp stylet or beak for sucking. The water boatman is one form, swimming on its back. The water-stick is a long, slim, water-bug. Water-bugs are interesting to study in aquaria and may be collected with an insect net, sweeping the bottom of a pond and the submerged plants. The water scorpion, also sometimes called the electric light bug, is the most formidable of all the water-bugs. It is about two inches long, with sharp, pointed forelegs with which it catches small fishes and frogs and sucks their blood. It flies from pond to pond at night, and is attracted by strong lights. See Electric-Light Bug.