Benacus griseus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Benacus griseus is a species of giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae. It is the only species in the genus Benacus, which was formerly considered a subgenus of Lethocerus. Benacus griseus is found throughout eastern North America, from New England, west through southern Ontario and to Nebraska, south to Florida and Texas, along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Mexico, and into Cuba.
Adults reach lengths of 47–64 mm, making them one of the largest aquatic insect species found in eastern North America. It is distinguished from other Lethocerinae species by the lack of a groove on its front femur. It is also characterized by a wide hind tibia and black ventral stripes. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Toe-Biter sighting in Orlando on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 161st most-seen of the 294 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Toe-Biter in Orlando on a given day, against under 5% in January–May and July–November, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Toe-Biter sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Yes
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Eastern Toe-Biter sightings, Orlando has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Miami (United States, under 5%) and Houston (United States, under 5%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Eastern Toe-Biter that you can see in Orlando (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are Red-Shouldered Bug (about 10%), Black Stink Bug (about 10%) and Giant Leaf-Footed Bug (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Toe-Biter is recorded against all the insects logged in Orlando (10 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.
