Belostoma flumineum
In 3 days ~10%
Belostoma flumineum is a North American species of giant water bug (family Belostomatidae). They are a common predator in ponds and wetlands. They are relatively large, reaching 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in length. As with other species of the Belostomatidae family, the fathers take care of the offspring. Exclusive paternal care has been the focus of many studies done on this species. Other studies have been done on food webs and predation pressure using this species because they are an apex predator (among invertebrates) in their preferred habitats.
Ovoid-elongate in body shape that is dorsoventrally flattened and brown in coloration. They can range 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in length. B.flumineum are insects so naturally have six legs although the front two are strong raptorial legs for catching and holding prey in a vice grip. The other four legs are slightly flattened and used for swimming. The mouth parts consist of a stout syringe-like rostrum or beak and long piercing stylets that were once mandibles and maxillae. They also have retractable strap-like appendages that allow for snorkeling while under water which are located on the posterior end of the abdomen. They... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Belostoma flumineum sighting in Chicago on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 884th most-seen of the 978 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Belostoma flumineum in Chicago on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Belostoma flumineum sightings, Chicago ranks 4th at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (United States, under 5%), Montreal (Canada, under 5%) and Toronto (Canada, under 5%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Belostoma flumineum that you can see in Chicago (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are Large Milkweed Bug (about 20%), Red-Banded Leafhopper (about 10%) and Scissor Grinder (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Belostoma flumineum is recorded against all the insects logged in Chicago (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
