Gelastocoris oculatus, the big-eyed toad bug, is a species of toad bug in the family Gelastocoridae. It is found in Central America and North America.[1][2][3] Due to their coloration they can be difficult to find. Females lay their eggs under rocks or in sand or mud and both the larva and adults are carnivorous: feeding on other insects along the shorelines.
Gelastocoris oculatus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Gelastocoridae |
Genus: | Gelastocoris |
Species: | G. oculatus
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Binomial name | |
Gelastocoris oculatus (Fabricius, 1798)
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Synonyms[1] | |
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Big-eyed_Toad_Bug_-_Gelastocoris_oculatus%2C_Okaloacoochee_Slough_State_Forest%2C_Felda%2C_Florida_-_11432587825.jpg/220px-Big-eyed_Toad_Bug_-_Gelastocoris_oculatus%2C_Okaloacoochee_Slough_State_Forest%2C_Felda%2C_Florida_-_11432587825.jpg)
They are most active in spring to autumn and those in the northern range hibernate. Adults have been known to congregate sometimes.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Big-eyed_Toad_Bug_-_Gelastocoris_oculatus%2C_Okaloacoochee_Slough_State_Forest%2C_Felda%2C_Florida.jpg/220px-Big-eyed_Toad_Bug_-_Gelastocoris_oculatus%2C_Okaloacoochee_Slough_State_Forest%2C_Felda%2C_Florida.jpg)
Subspecies
editThese two subspecies belong to the species Gelastocoris oculatus:
- Gelastocoris oculatus oculatus (Fabricius, 1798)
- Gelastocoris oculatus variegatus (Guérin-Méneville, 1844)
References
edit- ^ a b "Gelastocoris oculatus Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Gelastocoris oculatus". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Gelastocoris oculatus species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
Further reading
edit- Todd, Edward L. (1955). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Family Gelastocoridae (Hemiptera)". The University of Kansas Science Bulletin. 37 (11): 277–475. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.1590. hdl:1808/26411.
External links
edit- Media related to Gelastocoris oculatus at Wikimedia Commons