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Ecology of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)
Author(s) -
Ohba Shinya
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/ens.12334
Subject(s) - heteroptera , biology , predation , hemiptera , ecology , predator , aquatic insect , mating , competition (biology) , habitat , zoology
Giant water bugs (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) are aquatic predators of freshwater habitats, and include ca. 150 species distributed throughout the world's subtropical and tropical areas. They have unique mating systems, which involve female competition, and exhibit paternal care, wherein males attend eggs laid by the females on emergent plants (Lethocerinae) or on their backs (Belostomatinae). I review here the studies on the predator–prey relationships, morphology, migration, mating behavior and conservation of this family of insects.