| Gelastocoridae ~ Toad Bugs |
Toad bugs live only near water, where they can be seen hopping about on mud or sand. They are about 8 mm long, and rather wide. There are only a handful of species in the U.S. and only one species is found in our area: Gelastocoris oculatus. This is a predatory bug that really does resemble a small toad, both in its color and shape, and in the way it jumps about. That it prefers a damp habitat makes the resemblance even more exact. The color can vary on these insects, but their distinctive shape, habitat, and protruding eyes make them pretty easy to identify. When they are not moving, they blend in with the background so well as to be almost invisible. |
