Abstract
We describe general biology of giant water bugs (Heteroptera, Belostomatidae), exclusive paternal care (back-brooding behavior in Belostomatinae and emergent-brooding behavior in Lethocerinae), and recent topics in sexual selection in this family. In the general biology, we introduced phylogenetic relationships of Belostomatidae within Nepomorpha and among Belostomatidae genera, distribution, food, behavior, and general egg morphology. After Smith’s evolutionary hypothesis (Smith RL, The evolution of social behavior in insects and arachnids. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1997), feeding habit of Belostomatidae was revealed and the result agreed with his hypothesis. In the exclusive paternal care, we reviewed the role of paternal care, oviposition site selection, and evolution of sexual size dimorphism and its relation to the presence of paternal care. After controlling for phylogenetic signal, it seems that the infanticide phenomenon does not necessarily explain the origin of sexual size dimorphism biased toward females in Belostomatidae, since the ancestor of all Belostomatidae was most likely a non-brooder. Finally, we show the future direction of the study in giant water bugs: coevolution between male and female genitalia in Belostomatidae, allometry for sexual size dimorphism and its disagreement with Rensch’s rule, and phylogenetic test of predictions provided by Smith’s evolutionary scenario assuming alternative conditions (Horvathinia is an emergent-brooder, a back-brooder, or a non-brooder).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alcock J (2013) Animal behavior: an evolutionary approach, 10th edn. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland
Alonzo SH (2012) Sexual selection favours male parental care, when females can choose. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 279:1784–1790
Andersson M (1994) Sexual selection. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Arnqvist G, Rowe L (2005) Sexual conflict. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Blanckenhorn WU (2009) Case studies of the differential-equilibrium hypothesis of sexual size dimorphism in two dung fly species. In: Fairbairn DJ, Blanckenhorn WU, Szekely T (eds) Sex, size and gender roles: evolutionary studies of sexual size dimorphism. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 106–114
Cloarec A (1992) The influence of feeding on predatory tactics in a water bug. Physiol Entomol 17:25–32
Clutton-Brock TH (1991) The evolution of parental care. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Crowl TA, Alexander JE (1989) Parental care and foraging ability in male water bugs (Belostoma flumineum). Can J Zool 67:513–515
Cullen M (1969) The biology of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) in Trinidad. Proc R Entomol Soc Lond A 44:123–136
Costa JT (2006) The other insect societies. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Dale J, Dunn PO, Figuerola J, Lislevand T, Székely T, Whittingham LA (2007) Sexual selection explains Rensch’s rule of allometry for sexual size dimorphism. Proc R Soc B 274:2971–2979
Davis CM, Roth VL (2008) The evolution of sexual size dimorphism in cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus, Leporidae). Biol J Linn Soc 95:141–156
De Carlo JA (1966) Un nuevo género, nuevas especies y referencias de otras poco conocidas de la familia Belostomatidae (Hemiptera). Rev Soc Entomol Argent 28:97–109
Dupuis C (1955) Les génitalia des hémiptères hétéroptères (génitalia externes des deux sexes; voies ectodermiques femelles). Revue de la morphologie. Lexique de la nomenclature. Index bibliographique analytique. Mém Mus Natl Hist Nat A Zool 6:183–278
Estévez AL, Ribeiro JRI (2011) Weberiella De Carlo, 1966 (Insecta: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) revisited: redescription with a key to the genera of Belostomatidae and considerations on back-brooding behaviour. Zoologischer Anzeiger 250:46–54
Fairbairn DJ (1997) Allometry for sexual size dimorphism: pattern and process in the coevolution of body size in males and females. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 28:659–687
Fairbairn DJ, Preziosi RF (1994) Sexual selection and the evolution of allometry for sexual size dimorphism in the water strider, Aquarius remigis. Am Nat 144:101–118
Felsenstein J (2012) A comparative method for both discrete and continuous characters using the threshold model. Am Nat 179:145–156
Fernández M, Bock C, Pörtner HO (2000) The cost of being a caring mother: the ignored factor in the reproduction of marine invertebrates. Ecol Lett 3:487–494
Fittkau EJ (1977) Kinal and kinon, habitat and coenosis of the surface drift as seen in Amazonian running waters. Geo-Eco-Trop 1:9–20
Gilg MR, Kruse KC (2003) Reproduction decreases life span in the giant water bug (Belostoma flumineum). Am Midl Nat 149:306–319
Hebsgaard MB, Andersen NM, Damgaard J (2004) Phylogeny of the true water bugs (Nepomorpha: Hemiptera-Heteroptera) based on 16S and 28S rDNA and morphology. Syst Entomol 29:488–508
Hoelzer G (1989) The good parent process of sexual selection. Anim Behav 38:1067–1078
Hua J, Li M, Dong P, Cui Y, Xie Q, Bu W (2009) Phylogenetic analysis of the true water bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha): evidence from mitochondrial genomes. BMC Evol Biol 9:134–145
Hungerford HB (1919) The biology and zoology of aquatic and semi-aquatic Hemiptera. Kansas Univ Sci Bull 11:1–341
Ichikawa N (1988) Male brooding behaviour of the giant water bug Lethocerus deyrollei Vuillefroy (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). J Ethol 6:121–127
Ichikawa N (1989) Breeding strategy of the male brooding water bug, Diplonychus major esaki (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae): is male back space limiting? J Ethol 7:133–140
Ichikawa N (1990) Egg mass destroying behaviour of the female giant water bug Lethocerus deyrollei Vuillefroy (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J Ethol 8:5–11
Ichikawa N (1991) Egg mass destroying and guarding behaviour of the giant water bug, Lethocerus deyrollei Vuillefroy (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J Ethol 9:25–29
Ichikawa N (1993) Biased operational sex ratio causes the female giant water bug Lethocerus deyrollei to destroy egg masses. J Ethol 11:151–152
Ichikawa N (1995) Male counterstrategy against infanticide of the female giant water bug Lethocerus deyrollei (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). J Insect Behav 8:181–188
Iglesias MS, Valverde AC, Sol-Gaspe M, Crespo FA (2010) Occurrence of sexual size dimorphism in Belostoma elegans (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Entomol News 121:31–34
Iglesias MS, Crespo FA, Valverde ADC (2012) Is parental care behavior in Belostoma species an evolutionary cause for their common sexual size dimorphism pattern? Entomol Sci 15:155–161
Inada K, Kitade O, Morino H (2011) Paternity analysis in a egg-carrying aquatic insect Appasus major (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) using microsatellite DNA markers. Entomol Sci 14:43–48
Kelly NB, Alonzo SH (2009) Will male advertisement be a reliable indicator of paternal care, if offspring survival depends on male care? Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 276:3175–3183
Kight SL, Batino M, Zhang Z (2000) Temperature-dependent parental investment in the giant water bug Belostoma flumineum (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 93:340–342
Kight SL, Kruse KC (1992) Factors affecting the allocation of paternal care in water bugs (Belostoma flumineum Say). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 30:409–414
Kight SL, Sprague J, Kruse KC, Johnson L (1995) Are egg-bearing male water bugs, Belostoma flumineum Say (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), impaired swimmers? J Kansas Entomol Soc 68:468–470
Kight SL, Tanner AW, Coffey GL (2011) Termination of parental care in male giant waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) is associated with breeding season, egg pad size, and presence of females. Invertebr Reprod Dev 55:197–204
Kraus W (1989) Surface wave communication during courtship in the giant water bug, Abedus indentatus (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J Kansas Entomol Soc 62:316–328
Lauck DR, Menke AS (1961) The higher classification of the Belostomatidae (Hemiptera). Ann Entomol Soc Am 54:644–657
Lee C (1991) Morphological and phylogenetic studies on the true water bugs. Nat Life 21:1–183
Macías-Ordóñez R (2003) On the reproductive behavior and population ecology of Lethocerus colossicus Stal (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Folia Entomol Mex 42:161–168
Madhavan MM (1974) Structure and function of the hydropyle of the egg of the bug, Sphaerodema molestum. J Insect Physiol 20:1341–1349
Mahner M (1993) Systema Cryptoceratorum Phylogeneticum (Insecta, Heteroptera). Zoologica 48:1–302
Menke AS (1965) A new South American toe biter (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae). Contrib Sci 89:2–4
Menke AS (1979) Family Belostomatidae. In: Menke AS (ed) The semiaquatic and aquatic Hemiptera of California (Heteroptera: Hemiptera), Bulletin of the California Insect Survey. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 76–86
Morand S (1997) Comparative analyses of continuous data: the need to be phylogenetically correct. In: Grandcolas P (ed) The origin of biodiversity in insects: phylogenetic tests of evolutionary scenarios, Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, pp 73–90
Moreira FFF, Barbosa JF, Ribeiro JRI, Alecrim VP (2011) Checklist and distribution of semiaquatic and aquatic Heteroptera (Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha) occurring in Brazil. Zootaxa 2958:1–74
Mori A, Ohba S (2004) Field observations of predation on snakes by the giant water bug. Bull Herpetol Soc Jpn 2004:78–81. (in Japanese)
Mukai Y, Baba N, Ishii M (2005) The water system of traditional rice paddies as an important habitat of the giant water bug, Lethocerus deyrollei (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J Insect Conserv 9:121–129
Munguía-Steyer R, Favila ME, Macias-Ordonez R (2008) Brood pumping modulation and the benefits of paternal care in Abedus breviceps (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). Ethology 114:693–700
Munguía-Steyer R, Macias-Ordonez R (2007) Is it risky to be a father? Survival assessment depending on sex and parental status in the water bug Abedus breviceps using multistate modelling. Can J Zool 85:49–55
Nazareth TM, Machado G (2010) Mating system and exclusive postzygotic paternal care in a Neotropical harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones). Anim Behav 79:547–554
Nentwig W, Wissel C (1986) A comparison of prey lengths among spiders. Oecologia 68:595–600
Ohba S (2002) Synchronized mechanism and its meaning in the egg hatching of the giant water bug, Lethocerus deyrolli (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Jpn J Entomol 5:157–164. (in Japanese with English Abstract)
Ohba S (2011) Field observation of predation on a turtle by a giant water bug. Entomol Sci 14:364–365
Ohba S (2012) Field observation of predation on a Japanese mamushi, Gloydius blomhoffii, by a giant water bug, Kirkaldyia deyrolli. Jpn J Entomol 15:92–93. (in Japanese with English Abstract)
Ohba S, Hidaka K, Sasaki M (2006) Notes on paternal care and sibling cannibalism in the giant water bug, Lethocerus deyrolli (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Entomol Sci 9:1–5
Ohba S, Maeda A (2017) Paternal care behaviour of the giant water bug Kirkaldyia deyrolli (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) against ants. Ecol Entomol 42:402–410
Ohba S, Matsuo S, Trang Huynh TT, Kudo S (2018) Female mate preference for egg-caring males in the giant water bug Diplonychus rusticus (Heteroptera Belostomatidae). Ethol Ecol Evol 30:477–484
Ohba S, Okuda N, Kudo S (2016) Sexual selection of male parental care in giant water bugs. R Soc Open Sci 3:150720
Ohba S, Tatsuta H (2016) Young giant water bug nymphs prefer larger prey: changes in foraging behaviour with nymphal growth in Kirkaldyia deyrolli. Biol J Linn Soc 117:601–606
Ohba S, Tatsuta H, Nakasuji F (2008) Variation in the geometry of foreleg claws in sympatric giant water bug species: an adaptive trait for catching prey? Entomol Exp Appl 129:223–227
Parker GA (1970) Sperm competition and its evolutionary consequences in the insects. Biol Rev 45:525–567
Perez-Goodwyn PJ (2006) Taxonomic revision of the subfamily Lethocerinae Lauck & Menke (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Stuttgarter Beitr zur Naturkd Ser A 695:1–71
Perez-Goodwyn PJ (2001) Size selective predation by Belostoma oxyurum (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae. Rev Soc Entomol Argent 60:139–146
Polhemus JT (1995) Nomenclatural and synonymical notes on the genera Diplonychus Laporte and Appasus Amyot and Serville (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Proc Entomol Soc Wash 97:649–653
Rensch B (1959) Evolution above the species level. Columbia University Press, New York
Revell LJ (2014) Ancestral character estimation under the threshold model from quantitative genetics. Evolution 68:743–759
Requena GS, Machado G (2015) Effects of egg attendance on male mating success in a harvestman with exclusive paternal care. Behav Ecol 26:926–935
Requena GS, Munguía-Steyer R, Machado G (2014) Chapter 8: Paternal care and sexual selection in Arthropods. In: Macedo RH, Machado G (eds) Sexual selection. Perspectives and models from the Neotropics. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 201–233
Ribeiro JRI, Meyin-a-Ebong SE, Le-Gall P, Guilbert E (2014) A taxonomic synopsis of Limnogeton Mayr, 1853 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Zootaxa 3779:573–584
Ribeiro JRI, Moreira FFF, Alecrim VP, Barbosa JF, Nessimian JL (2009) Espécies de heterópteros dulciaquícolas (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha e Nepomorpha) registradas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Arq Mus Nac Rio de Janeiro 67:303–312
Ribeiro JRI, Ohba S, Pluot-Sigwalt D, Stefanello F, Bu W, Meyin-A-Ebong SE, Guilbert E (2018) Phylogenetic analysis and revision of subfamily classification of Belostomatidae genera (Insecta: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha). Zool J Linnean Soc 182:319–359
Royle NJ, Smiseth PT, Kölliker M (2012) The evolution of parental care. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Schnack JA, Estévez AL (2005) On the taxonomic status of the genus Horvathinia Montandon (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). Zootaxa 1016:21–27
Schumann DA, Cavallaro MC, Hoback WW (2012) Size selective predation of fish by Hydrophilis triangularis (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) and Lethocerus americanus (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). J Kansas Entomol Soc 85:155–159
Shuster SM, Wade MJ (2003) Mating systems and strategies. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Simmons LW (2001) Sperm competition and its evolutionary consequences in the insects. Princeton University Press, Oxford
Smiseth PT (2014) Parental care. In: Shuster DM, Simmons LW (eds) The evolution of insect mating systems. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 221–241
Smith RL (1976a) Brooding behavior of a male water bug Belostoma flumineum. J Kansas Entomol Soc 49:333–343
Smith RL (1976b) Male brooding behavior of the water bug Abedus herberti. Ann Entomol Soc Am 69:740–747
Smith RL (1979a) Paternity assurance and altered roles in the mating behaviour of a giant water bug, Abedus herberti (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Anim Behav 27:716–725
Smith RL (1979b) Repeated copulation and sperm precedence: paternity assurance for a male brooding water bug. Science 205:1029
Smith RL (1997) Evolution of paternal care in the giant water bugs (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). In: Choe J, Crespi B (eds) The evolution of social behavior in insects and arachnids. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 116–149
Smith RL, Larsen E (1993) Egg attendance and brooding by males of the giant water bug Lethocerus medius (Guerin) in the field (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J Insect Behav 6:93–106
Spooner D (1938) The phylogeny of the hemiptera based on a study of the head capsule. Ill Biol Monogr 16:1–102
Swart CC, Deaton LE, Felgenhauer BE (2006) The salivary gland and salivary enzymes of the giant waterbugs (Heteroptera; Belostomatidae). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 145:114–122
Tallamy DW (2000) Sexual selection and the evolution of exclusive paternal care in arthropods. Anim Behav 60:559–567
Tallamy DW (2001) Evolution of exclusive paternal care in arthropods. Annu Rev Entomol 46:139–165
Thomas L, Manica A (2005) Intrasexual competition and mate choice in assassin bugs with uniparental male and female care. Anim Behav 69:275–281
Thrasher P, Reyes E, Klug H (2015) Parental care and mate choice in the giant water bug Belostoma lutarium. Ethology 121:1018–1029
Venkatesan P, Rao TR (1980) Water loss by eggs of Diplonychus sp. (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae). J Kansas Entomol Soc 53:587–594
Warren P, Lawton J (1987) Invertebrate predator-prey body size relationships: an explanation for upper triangular food webs and patterns in food web structure? Oecologia 74:231–235
Warton DI, Wright IJ, Falster DS, Westoby M (2006) Bivariate line-fitting methods for allometry. Biol Rev 81:259–291
Wilson CA (1958) Aquatic and semiaquatic Hemiptera of Mississippi. Tulane Stud Zool 6:116–170
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ohba, Sy., Ribeiro, J.R.I., Santer, M. (2019). Paternal Care in Giant Water Bugs. In: Del-Claro, K., Guillermo, R. (eds) Aquatic Insects. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16327-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16327-3_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16326-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16327-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)