Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Gelastocoris Kirkaldy, 1897
Explanation of Names
From Greek
gelasto, laugh; plus
coris, a bug
(1).
The Century Dictionary (2) gives the meaning of the Greek word
gelastos (γελαστος) as "laughable, ridiculous", and that makes sense in this context--this is a "ridiculous bug" in terms of its appearance.
Identification
A common, though well-camouflaged bug of muddy freshwater shorelines. Some characters:
walks, or sometimes, hops
wide oval flattened body with projecting sides of
prothorax
bulging eyes
pronotal humeral angles are sharp in
G. oculatus vs. rounded in
G. rotundatus (which occurs in the southwest only)
(4)
Comparison of the two North American species:
Range
throughout the US and into so. Canada (
G. oculatus across NA;
G. rotundatus in AZ & NM)
(3)Habitat
shores of quiet water bodies
(5)Food
Predatory on smaller insects.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid near water's edge in mud or sand, or under stones. Nymphs grow slowly if food is scarce. Adults overwinter, but few eggs hatch before early summer.
(6)