Acanthocephala declivis explained

Acanthocephala declivis, the giant leaf-footed bug, is a species of North American true bug with a range from the southern United States to El Salvador and some Caribbean islands.[1] [2] It is the largest of this genus within this range, generally growing to be 28to long.[3] It can be distinguished from similar species by its much more broadly expanding pronotum, which extends much further than the abdomen, and the blunt tubercles on the midline of the anterior pronotal lobe, which is not present in other Acantla species within its range.[4]

One specific characteristic about Acanthocephala declivis is that sexual competition by males pertaining to this species depends on their hind leg dimorphism. They use their legs to squeeze other males when competing for sexual partners. The length and diameter of the large tooth and femur of their hind legs are noticeably larger than the rest of their bodies, proportionally speaking. Females, on the other hand, don’t have these exceptionally large hind legs, although they also use them for mating aggression.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Blatchley, W. S.. Heteroptera or True bug of Eastern North America. Willis Blatchley. 1926. The Nature Publishing Company. 214-215. 28 July 2024. Biodiversity Heritage Library. Indianapolis.
  2. Web site: Species Acanthocephala declivis. BugGuide. Nendick-Mason. Hannah. 12 July 2019. Originally published 15 November 2005. 28 July 2024.
  3. Book: Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States. Henry. Thomas J.. Froeschner. Richard C.. Richard Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers. 0-916846-44-X.
  4. Web site: Identifying insects beyond Family . University of Florida . 2013-11-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100304175654/http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/choate/insectclass/beyond_family.htm . 2010-03-04 .
  5. William G.. Eberhard. Sexual Behavior of Acanthocephala declivis guatemalana (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and the Allometric Scaling of their Modified Hind Legs. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 91. 6. 1998. 863–871. 10.1093/aesa/91.6.863.

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