Belostoma
Belostoma is a genus of insects in the hemipteran family Belostomatidae, known colloquially as giant water bugs. Members of this genus are native to freshwater habitats in the Americas, with the greatest species richness in tropical South America. Most species in the family Belostomatidae have historically been included in Belostoma, but several of these have been moved to other genera. 9 species are claimed to be found in Northern America, but the genus Belostoma is actually divided into 16 subgroups containing about 70 species.
Habits
The morphology and the behavior of giant water bugs of the genus Belostoma is very similar to those of the genus Lethocerus and Abedus, which all belong to the family of the Belostomatidae. They also show breeding habits similar to those of the family of the Belostomatidae. They show paternal care. The males are carrying the eggs cemented on theirs backs, that are placed there by the females. The males carry them until the nymphs hatch.Bugs of the genus Belostoma prefer lentic habitats with submerged or emergent vegetation and for overwintering the adults fly to ponds and slow-moving waters. During the springtime and the early summer they often fly to electric light-sources, thus they are also called "electric-light-bugs". The life circle contains one generation a year. The length of the bodies is between 15 and 41,5mm.
Nymphs and adults are predators eating fish, amphians, snails, and invertebrates. Sometimes small turtles and snakes also may be their prey. They stalk their prey by hanging head downwards under the water surface, striking using the rostrum and injecting digestive saliva. The sting of these bugs may be very painful but it is harmless, but because of that fact these bugs are also called "toe-biters". Encountered by larger animals they often play dead. Giant water bugs sometimes are eaten by crocodilia such as young alligators.
Species
The following species belong to the genus Belostoma: i c g b- Belostoma amazonum Estévez & J. Polhemus, 2001
- Belostoma angustum Lauck, 1964
- Belostoma anurum
- Belostoma asiaticum
- Belostoma aurivillianum
- Belostoma aztecum Lauck, 1959
- Belostoma bachmanni De Carlo, 1957Belostoma bakeri Montandon, 1913Belostoma bergi Belostoma bicavum Lauck, 1964Belostoma bifoveolatum Spinola, 1852Belostoma bordoni De Carlo, 1966Belostoma boscii Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1825Belostoma bosqi De Carlo, 1932Belostoma cachoeirinhensis Lanzer-de-Souza, 1996Belostoma candidulum Montandon, 1903Belostoma carajaensis Ribeiro and Estévez, 2009Belostoma columbiae Lauck, 1962Belostoma confusum Lauck, 1959Belostoma costalimai De Carlo, 1938Belostoma cummingsi De Carlo, 1935Belostoma dallasi De Carlo, 1930Belostoma dentatum Mayr, 1863Belostoma denticolle Montandon, 1903Belostoma dilatatum Dufour, 1863Belostoma discretum Montandon, 1903Belostoma doesburgi De Carlo, 1966Belostoma elegans Mayr, 1871Belostoma ellipticum Latreille, 1817Belostoma elegans Mayr, 1871Belostoma elongatum Montandon, 1908Belostoma estevezae Ribeiro and Alecrim, 2008Belostoma fakir Gistl, 1848Belostoma fittkaui De Carlo, 1966Belostoma flumineum Say, 1832Belostoma foveolatum Mayr, 1863Belostoma fusciventre Dufour, 1863Belostoma grande Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843Belostoma gestroi Montandon, 1900Belostoma guianae Lauck, 1962Belostoma harrisi Lauck, 1962Belostoma hirsutum Roback and Nieser, 1974Belostoma horvathi Montandon, 1903Belostoma husseyi De Carlo, 1960Belostoma lariversi De Carlo, 1960Belostoma lutarium Stål, 1855Belostoma machrisi De Carlo, 1962Belostoma malkini Lauck, 1962Belostoma martinezi De Carlo, 1957Belostoma martini Montandon, 1899Belostoma menkei De Carlo, 1960Belostoma micantulum Stål, 1860Belostoma minor Palisot de Beauvois, 1820Belostoma minusculum Uhler, 1884Belostoma nessimiani Ribeiro and Alecrim, 2008Belostoma nicaeum Estévez and J. Polhemus, 2007Belostoma noualhieri Montandon, 1903Belostoma orbiculatum Estévez and J. Polhemus, 2001Belostoma oxyurum Dufour, 1863Belostoma parvoculum Lauck, 1964Belostoma parvum Estévez and J. Polhemus, 2007Belostoma plebejum Stål, 1860Belostoma porteri De Carlo, 1942Belostoma pseudoguianae Roback and Nieser, 1974Belostoma pygmeum Dufour, 1863Belostoma retusum Estévez and J. Polhemus, 2001Belostoma ribeiroi De Carlo, 1933Belostoma sanctulum Montandon, 1903Belostoma saratogae Menke, 1958Belostoma sattleri De Carlo, 1966Belostoma sayagoi De Carlo, 1966Belostoma stollii Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843Belostoma subspinosum Palisot, 1820Belostoma testaceopallidum Latreille, 1807Belostoma testaceum Leidy, 1847Belostoma thomasi Lauck, 1959Belostoma triangulum Lauck, 1964Belostoma uhleri Montandon, 1897Belostoma venezuelae Lauck, 1962