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True Bugs of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER HETEROPTERA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-​True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera)

-True Bugs (Suborder Heteroptera)​

-​Water Bugs (Infraorder Nepomorpha)

-Superfamily Nepoidea

-Giant Water Bugs (Family Belostomatidae)

-Subfamily Belostomatinae

-Tribe Belostomatini

-Genus Belostoma


Belostoma is a genus of large aquatic insects in the family Belostomatidae, commonly known as giant water bugs or “toe-biters.” They are found throughout the Americas in ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving streams. They have strong, raptorial front legs adapted for grasping prey and powerful hind legs used for swimming. At the rear of the abdomen, they possess short breathing tubes that allow them to take in air while submerged. These insects are ambush predators. They lie in wait among vegetation or debris and seize prey—including insects, tadpoles, small fish, and even small amphibians—with their grasping forelegs. They inject digestive enzymes through a piercing beak (rostrum) and then suck out the liquefied tissues.

Belostoma Giant Water Bug

Belostoma (Genus)

Diet

  • Adults: Feed by piercing plant tissues with their straw-like mouthparts and sucking plant sap from leaves, stems, buds and developing fruits.

  • Nymphs: Also feed on plant juices and generally remain associated with suitable host plants throughout their development.

Range

  • Acanthocephala alata is a leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) in the subfamily Coreinae, tribe Acanthocephalini, genus Acanthocephala.

  • The species occurs in Mexico and Central America, particularly in tropical and subtropical environments.

  • It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where suitable tropical vegetation provides habitat.

  • Its relatively large size makes it conspicuous when encountered, although its brown colouration can provide excellent camouflage among branches and dried vegetation.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland, scrub, forest edges, gardens and agricultural areas.

  • Adults and nymphs are usually found on shrubs, vines and trees, particularly where young shoots, flowers or developing fruits are present.

  • In Zihua, check stems and branches as well as leaves, since these bugs can remain motionless and blend into the vegetation.

  • Adults may also occasionally be attracted to lights at night.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 15–25 mm (0.6–1.0 in).

  • Body elongated and robust, with the characteristic expanded hind tibiae of leaf-footed bugs.

  • Generally brown, reddish-brown or dark brown, sometimes with contrasting lighter markings.

  • The head and thorax bear prominent spines and angular projections, giving Acanthocephala its distinctive “spine-headed” appearance.

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