Arthropods 6

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Southern California Arthropods #6: True Bugs

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Giant Water Bug Family (Belostomatidae)

Giant water bug from Florida.

Giant water bugs (Abedus indentatus), affectionately called "toe biters" by barefooted swimmers. These large bugs of the family Belostomatidae cling motionless to underwater plants and debris in southern California streams. They periodically come to the surface to replenish their air supply carried in a bubble under the wings. With their poweful raptorial front legs they catch other aquatic insects, tadpoles and even small fish. Females typically deposit their eggs on the backs of the males. Brooding males provide for the needs of the eggs by exposing them to air and an intermittent flow of water. In addition, the eggs are protected and are not accessible to the ravenous males.

Milkweed Bug Family (Lygaeidae)

Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) in the northern Coast Range.

Ambush Bug Family (Phymatidae)

An ambush bug (Phymata fasciata). This well-camouflaged little bug (order Heteroptera) is a fierce predator and may capture insects much larger than itself. With is strong raptorial forelegs it grasps it prey while injecting venom with it tubular sucking mouthparts. I have seen an ambush bug kill a honeybee in a flower. According to Thomas Eisner (For Love of Insects, 2003), ambush bugs caught in the webs of orb weaver spiders (Argiope aurantia) actually killed their captors by biting the spiders in their legs. Eisner observed that the spiders often exhibited autotomy (shedding their bitten legs) and were able to survive the bite of the ambush bug.

A Well-Camouflaged Ambush Bug On The Inflorescence Of Lantana

References:

  1. Evans, A.V. 2007. Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, New York.

  2. Hogue, C.L. 1993. Insects of the Los Angeles Basin. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

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