Belostoma
Habit and habitat : Belostoma is the largest insect found in the rivers, ponds and lakes. They are rapacious feeding on insects, tadpoles, snails and small flies.
Distribution : Belostoma is found in U.K., North America, Soutfi Africa and India.
(I) Common called as giant water-bugv
(2) This is large insect, measuring 10 cm in length and is adapted for swimming and crawling.
(3) Body is dorsoventrally compressed and has usually three parts, namely head, thorax and abdomen. Pronotum large.
(4) Head has large compound eyes. Antennae 4-jointed. Mouth parts adapted for piercing and sucking. (5) Mouth parts adapted for piercing and sucking.
(6) Thorax contains walking legs. Posterior legs adapted for swimming Tarsi 3-jointed. Tibia flattened ana fringed with hairs.
(7) Just below thorax is scutellum.
(8) Wings membranous. Forewings are not uniform. Distal portion membranous while distal part hardened. At rest the wings lie flat over the abdomen in overlapping manner.
(9) Abdomen is provided with two retractile apical appendages.
(10) In certain species female deposits its eggs on the back of the male where they are carried till hatching. Ovipositor well developed. Special features : Legs inflict injuries on prey. It also inflicts heavy wound on man which is very painful.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.