Belostomatidae
Belostomatidae | |
---|---|
Lethocerus americanus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Infraorder: | Nepomorpha |
Family: | Belostomatidae Leach, 1815 |
Belostomatidae is a
Morphology
Belostomatids have a flattened, obovoid to ovoid-elongate body, and usually the legs are flattened.[4] The head features two large compound eyes, but lacks ocelli, contrasting with many hemipterans. Short antennae are tucked in grooves behind the eyes. A short breathing tube can be retracted into its abdomen.[6] Adults cannot breathe under water, so must periodically place the breathing tube at the surface for air (similar to a snorkel).[7]
Their
Subfamilies and genera
BioLib lists three extant subfamilies and a number of fossil taxa:
Belostomatinae
Auth. Leach, 1815
- Abedus Stål, 1862
- Appasus Amyot & Serville, 1843
- Belostoma Latreille, 1807
- Diplonychus Laporte de Castelnau, 1833 (synonym Sphaerodema Laporte, 1833)
- Hydrocyrius Spinola, 1850 (synonym Poissonia Brown, 1948)
- Limnogeton Mayr, 1853
- Weberiella De Carlo, 1966
- Fossil genera
Horvathiniinae
Auth. Lauck & Menke, 1961; South America
- Horvathinia Montandon, 1911
Lethocerinae
Auth. Lauck & Menke, 1961
- Benacus Stål, 1861
- KirkaldyiaMontandon, 1909
- Lethocerus Mayr, 1853
Fossil taxa
subfamily Stygeonepinae Popov, 1971 †
- Aenictobelostoma Polhemus, 2000 †
- Belostomates Schöberlin, 1888 †
- Lethopterus Popov, 1989 †
- Manocerus Zhang, 1989 †
- Scarabaeides Germar, 1839 †
- Triassonepa Criscione & Grimaldi, 2017 †
Habits
Feeding and defense
Belostomatids are aggressive
Breeding
Belostomatids show paternal care and these aspects have been studied extensively, among others involving the North American Belostoma flumineum and the East Asian Lethocerus (Kirkaldyia) deyrollei. In species of the subfamily Belostomatinae, the eggs are typically laid on the male's wings and carried until they hatch. The male cannot mate during this period. The males invest considerable time and energy in reproduction and females take the role of actively finding males to mate. This role reversal matches the predictions of R. L. Trivers' parental investment theory. In the subfamily Lethocerinae, the eggs are laid on emergent vegetation and guarded by the male.[11]
In Asian cuisine
Belostomatids can be found for sale in markets mainly in Southeast Asia involving the species
References
- ^ a b c P. J. Perez-Goodwyn (2006). "Taxonomic revision of the subfamily Lethocerinae Lauck & Menke (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie). 695: 1–71.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-12-385026-3.
- ^ PMID 20591375.
- ^ ISBN 978-0801420665.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4987-5657-0.
- ^ Merritt, R.W. (2008). An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Company.
- ^ PMID 10328676.
- PMID 16844394.
- S2CID 1391038.
- ^ "BBC Nature - Giant water bug photographed devouring baby turtle". BBC Nature.
- ISBN 978-0-511-72195-3.
Further reading
- D. R. Lauck (1962). "A monograph of the genus Belostoma (Hemiptera), Part I. Introduction and B. Dentatum and Subspinosum groups". Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 11 (3): 34–81.
- D. R. Lauck (1963). "A monograph of the genus Belostoma (Hemiptera), Part II. B. Aurivillianum, Testaceopallidium, Dilatatum, and Discretum groups". Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 11 (4): 82–101.
- D. R. Lauck (1964). "A monograph of the genus Belostoma (Hemiptera, Part III. B. Triangulum, Bergi, Minor, Bifoveolatum, and Flumineum groups". Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 11 (5): 102–154.
- A. S. Menke (1960). "A taxonomic study of the genus Abedus Stål (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae)". University of California Publications in Entomology. 16 (8): 393–440.
- R. L. Smith (1974). "Life history of Abedus herberti in Central Arizona" (PDF). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 81 (2): 272–283. .