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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Toad Bugs (Gelastocoridae)

Family Gelastocoridae - Toad Bugs

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Toad Bug - Gelastocoris oculatus Toad Bug - Gelastocoris oculatus - male - female Gelastocoris? - Gelastocoris oculatus Unknown - Nerthra Toad Bug? - Gelastocoris oculatus Toad bug - Gelastocoris oculatus Bug ID Request - Gelastocoris Nymph? - Gelastocoris oculatus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Gelastocoridae (Toad Bugs)
Explanation of Names
"Laughing Bug" or possibly "Laughable/Funny Bug."
Numbers
7 Nearctic species in 2 genera.
Identification
Generally oval, flattened shape with cryptic coloration. The eyes bulge. Antennae are hidden below the head.
Habitat
Sandy or muddy banks of creeks, rivers, ponds.
Food
Tiny arthropods.
Remarks
Genus Gelastocoris: Front legs do have tarsi and each tarsus has two claws. The front femora are normally proportioned at the base, not hugely enlarged. The front femora are about twice as long as their width at the base.

Genus Nerthra: Front legs do not have tarsi; instead, there is a single claw joined directly to the tibia. The front femora are hugely enlarged at the base. The front femora are about as wide as they are long.(1)
Print References
Slater and Baranowski, pages 243-244.(1)
Internet References
key to Florida species:
Works Cited
1.How to Know the True Bugs
By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Stephen Cresswell, Boris Bueche
Last updated 3 May, 2007 - 3:53am

Quick key to tell the difference between 2 genera
The University of Minnesota has a downloadable pdf file with a key to aquatic Hemipterans. It includes determining between the 2 genera of Toad Bugs which can be found in North America: Nerthra and Gelastocoris.
… Tony DiTerlizzi, 15 December, 2004 - 5:03pm

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