This fellow is almost dead. On close inspection it looks similar to a locust, but I haven't seen one like this before! The wings underneath the ones you see look like they're made of onion skin paper - see through white. Its a cool looking bug, for sure.

I think this is a Giant Water Bug in the subfamily Lethocerinae, possibly in the genus Benacus ..

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

Looking closer, the front legs appear to be banded, look at Lethocerus medius ..

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

It also looks like Belostomatidae which I found using the references you provided. They all seem similar. Probably attracted to parking lot lights after all the rain we had. It wasn't too far from a stream. I can't tell which one specifically since the photos all look very similar to the one I picked up. The habits of all also seem similar. Glad it didn't bite me. On the one above it says it delivers one of the most excruciatingly painful bites in the insect world. Cool looking bug, but I'd rather not experience the bite. Thanks Janet @JRsbugs!

You're welcome Donald.

Water beetles do fly from one water source to another in order to lay eggs, and some are attracted to night lights.