Can anyone identify the scientific name for this large bug?

[The_Traveler]

 

[pixmedic]

I believe it falls under the "kill it with fire" genus.

 

[runnah]

Looks like a cockroach variety. Where did you find them?

 

[snowbear]

Looks like Belostomatidae - Giant Water Bug.

 

[tirediron]

Looks like a cockroach variety. Where did you find them?

Laotian restaurant?

 

[runnah]

Looks like a cockroach variety. Where did you find them?

Laotian restaurant?

Well DC does have a wide variety of foreign foods.

 

[The_Traveler]

Looks like Belostomatidae - Giant Water Bug.

It looks like you are exactly right.

Lethocerus indicus

from Wikipedia - Lethocerus indicus - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Thailand
In the northeast region of Thailand, eating insects is common. This species (known as malaeng da na or maeng da; Thai: แมลงดานา or Thai: แมงดา) is a popular dish, eaten whole and fried, and as an extract.[2] Maeng da is used to make Nam phrik Maeng Da, a type of chili sauce used as a condiment.[3]

What isn't mentioned here is that the northeast section of Thailand, known as Isan Province, actually used to be part of Laos, the main language is Isan, which is a dialect of the Lao language.

 

[snowbear]

Glad I could help.

 

[The_Traveler]

How did you know that?
Are you an entomologist specializing in SE Asian edible bugs?