giant water bug; Lethocerus deyrollei
A large aquatic insect found in rice paddies and ponds in East Asia. Known for its painful bite and sometimes eaten as a delicacy.
I found a big giant water bug in the rice paddy.
タガメは水生昆虫の一種です。
The giant water bug is a type of aquatic insect.
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
Kanji form using 田 (rice field) and 鼈 (soft-shelled turtle); rarely used in practice.
Alternate kanji form; very rare.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 田鼈 literally means 'rice-field soft-shelled turtle', likely referring to its habitat and appearance.