Comparative studies on the seasonal occurrence, nymphal development and food menu in two giant water bugs, Diplonychus japonicus vuillefroy and Diplonychus major esaki (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)

Summary We compared the seasonal changes in population density and nymphal development at different water temperatures and under different food conditions between two giant water bugs, Diplonychus japonicus and D. major , in Okayama, Japan. D. japonicus produced 1–2 generations a year, while D. major was strictly inivoltine. The developmental velocity was higher in D. japonicus than in D. major . The thermal constant of D. japonicus was less than that of D. major . These results suggest that D. japonicus is adapted, to higher water temperature than D. major . In the field, D. japonicus preyed predominately on Lymnaeidae and Physidae snails, while D. major preyed on aquatic insects such as dragonfly nymphs.