Are Water Bugs Harmful to Humans?

Water bugs are of the order Hemiptera, which are called true bugs and have sucking mouth parts rather than chewing mouth parts. Water bugs include diving beetles, whirligig beetles, water boatmen, backswimmers and water scavenger beetles. While some are quite ferocious to their prey, they are harmless to humans.

Diet

• Most water bugs are predatory, and feed on aquatic insects and insect larvae, small fish, tadpoles and salamanders. Others are scavengers that eat dead insects and small animals. A few are herbivores, and eat minute algae.

Venom

• Water bugs do not have venom. Some do have a digestive juice they inject into the prey to soften the insides for easier digestion.

Biting

• Since the mouth parts are designed for sucking fluids, and not chewing, bites from a water bug are not a danger. Some however will stab a person's bare skin. The eastern toe-biter is one that will attack bare feet underwater. A backswimmer will also attack, which has earned it the nickname "water bee" or "water wasp."

Skimmers

• Most water bugs skim along the surface of the water using paddle-like legs. Some are capable of flight, though they spend most of their time in water.

Habitat

• Streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and even bird baths can be a habitat for a water bug.