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Biting Bugs Encountered in the Aquatic Environment J.P. Cuda Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Gainesville,

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Presentation on theme: "Biting Bugs Encountered in the Aquatic Environment J.P. Cuda Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Gainesville,"— Presentation transcript:

1 Biting Bugs Encountered in the Aquatic Environment J.P. Cuda Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Entomology & Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Gainesville, FL 32611-0620

2 Introduction Contact Information: Dr. Jim Cuda, Associate Professor phone 352-392-1901 ext 126 email jcuda@ifas.ufl.edu Research Area: Biological Control of Aquatic & Terrestrial Weeds Reference: Merritt, R. W. and K. W. Cummins (eds.). 1996. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, 3 rd edtion. Kendall / Hunt, Dubuque, IA

3 Topics Overview of Aquatic Insect Community EcologyOverview of Aquatic Insect Community Ecology - Basic Concepts and Terminology Examples of Biting Insects Likely to be EncounteredExamples of Biting Insects Likely to be Encountered Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?

4 Topics Overview of Aquatic Insect Community EcologyOverview of Aquatic Insect Community Ecology –Basic Concepts and Terminology

5 Aquatic Habitat Classification System CategoryRivers Lotic-erosional Lotic-erosional Lotic-depositional Lotic-depositionalLakes Lentic-limnetic Lentic-limnetic Lentic-littoral Lentic-littoral Lentic-profundal Lentic-profundal Benthos Benthos Description -running-water riffles -running-water pools -open water (shallow) -shallow shore area -open water (deep) -sediments Merritt & Cummins (1996)

6 Lentic Communities & Zones Diagram Benthos Pleuston WATER SURFACE LIGHT COMPENSATION POINT LITTORAL LIMNETIC PROFUNDAL Plankton Nekton

7 Lentic (Lake) Communities & Zones Surface FilmSurface Film - Pleuston- Surface Dwelling Organisms Limnetic Zone- Open Water to LightLimnetic Zone- Open Water to Light Penetration Limit Penetration Limit - Nekton- Free Swimming Organisms - Plankton- Free Floating Organisms Littoral Zone- Shallow Region WhereLittoral Zone- Shallow Region Where Plants Grow Plants Grow - Diverse Assemblage of Insects Profundal Zone- Low Light; No PlantProfundal Zone- Low Light; No Plant Growth Growth Benthos- SedimentBenthos- Sediment

8 Aquatic Insect Feeding Groups Category Category Shredders Shredders Collectors Collectors Scrapers Scrapers Piercers Piercers Predators Predators Parasitoids Parasitoids Food Type - Living plant tissue - Decomposing FPOM - Algae and CPOM - Algae and plant cell fluids - Animal tissue (multiple prey) - Animal tissue (single prey) Merritt & Cummins (1996)

9 Topics Overview of Aquatic Insect Community EcologyOverview of Aquatic Insect Community Ecology –Basic Concepts and Terminology Examples of Biting Insects Likely to be EncounteredExamples of Biting Insects Likely to be Encountered

10 Biting Insect Characteristics Mouthparts- Piercing, Mouthparts- Piercing, Beak-like Beak-like Adults Soft Bodied Adults Soft Bodied Simple Development Simple Development - Juveniles (Nymphs) Resemble Adults Resemble Adults Example- True Bugs Example- True Bugs - Order Hemiptera Mouthparts-Biting, Jaw-like Adults Hard Bodied Complex Development - Juveniles (Larvae) Don’t Resemble Adults Example- Beetles - Order Coleoptera

11 Fam. Belostomatidae Fam. Belostomatidae Large Oval Body Large Oval Body Raptorial Front Legs Raptorial Front Legs – Adapted for Catching Prey Prey Some Males Carry Some Males Carry Eggs on Back Eggs on Back Short, Stout Beak Short, Stout Beak Giant Water Bug, Belastoma sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

12 Giant Water Bug Outbreak The invasion of the giant water bug Customers stomp and cringe as swarms cover a Pasco shopping plaza. They're huge, creepy - and crunchy in sauce. By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published June 21, 2003 Electric Light Bug, Lethocerus sp.

13 Family Gerridae Family Gerridae Slender Body Slender Body Four Long Slender Legs Four Long Slender Legs Short Front Raptorial Short Front Raptorial Legs for Capturing Prey Legs for Capturing Prey Skate on Water Surface Skate on Water Surface Water Striders, Gerris sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

14 Family Nepidae Family Nepidae Long Slender Body Long Slender Body Snorkel-Like Snorkel-Like Abdominal Tube for Abdominal Tube for Breathing Breathing Raptorial Front Legs Raptorial Front Legs for Catching Prey for Catching Prey Water Scorpion, Ranatra sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

15 Fam. Notonectidae Fam. Notonectidae Boat-shaped Body; Boat-shaped Body; - Swim Upside Down Legs Paddle-like; Hind Legs Paddle-like; Hind Longer Than Others Longer Than Others Able to Breathe via Air Able to Breathe via Air Bubble Bubble Contain Hemoglobin Contain Hemoglobin Very Painful Bite Very Painful Bite Backswimmer, Notonecta sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

16 Fam. Corixidae Fam. Corixidae Similar Body Shape Similar Body Shape - Swim Upright Legs Paddle-like; Hind Legs Paddle-like; Hind Longer Than Others Longer Than Others Scavengers Scavengers Unlike Backswimmers Unlike Backswimmers Do Not Bite When Do Not Bite When Handled Handled Water Boatman, Hesperocorixa sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

17 Body Oval, Flattened Body Oval, Flattened Raptorial Front Legs Raptorial Front Legs for Grasping Prey for Grasping Prey Hold Air Bubble Hold Air Bubble Beneath Wings Beneath Wings Beak-like Mouthparts Beak-like Mouthparts Bite Painful as Hornet Bite Painful as Hornet Sting or Worse! Sting or Worse! Creeping Water Bug, Pelocoris sp. Order Hemiptera- True Bugs www.cals.ncsu.edu

18 Order Coleoptera- Beetles Family Dytiscidae Family Dytiscidae Adults Have Strong Adults Have Strong Jaws; Readily Bite Jaws; Readily Bite Larvae Often Called Larvae Often Called “ Water Tigers ” “ Water Tigers ” Hollow Mandibles Hollow Mandibles Inflict Painful Bite Inflict Painful Bite Very Active; Attack Very Active; Attack Larger Animals Larger Animals Predaceous Diving Beetle, Adult and Larva, Dytiscus sp. S. Boucher

19 Order Neuroptera- Dobsonflies Family Corydalidae Family Corydalidae Over 3 inches Long Over 3 inches Long Common in Lotic Common in Lotic Habitats Habitats Hunt Down & Capture Hunt Down & Capture Aquatic Invertebrates Aquatic Invertebrates with Strong Mandibles with Strong Mandibles Bite When Handled Bite When Handled Hellgrammite, Corydalus sp. www.cals.ncsu.edu

20 Summary Most Biting Aquatic Insects Associated with Littoral Zone of Water BodiesMost Biting Aquatic Insects Associated with Littoral Zone of Water Bodies -Prey on Organisms In or Near Aquatic Vegetation -Focus of Aquatic Plant Management Activity Possess Formidable Mouthparts (Beaks or Jaws) for Subduing PreyPossess Formidable Mouthparts (Beaks or Jaws) for Subduing Prey Capable of Inflicting Painful BiteCapable of Inflicting Painful Bite Handle with Care!Handle with Care!

21 Topics Overview of Aquatic Insect Community EcologyOverview of Aquatic Insect Community Ecology - Basic Concepts and Terminology Examples of Biting Insects Likely to be EncounteredExamples of Biting Insects Likely to be Encountered Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?

22 Acknowledgements Author: J. P. Cuda, Associate Professor Detailed Information on Giant Water Bugs is Available on the Featured Creatures Web Site http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu Entomology & Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2005 http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu

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