evanheit
Leaf-Footed Bug!
I believe this to be the leaf-footed bug. Its classification is within the family of Coreidae and more specifically, it is within the species Acanthocephala declivis. This name translates from Greek meaning ‘sloping thorn head’. This bug was found on February 23, basking in the sun outside of the Village apartments at UNCW. This bug demonstrates the concepts of Intrasexual selection. The males will fight competing males by delivering a powerful squeeze in order to deter them from mates or food. The length of the back femur and its largest tooth are proportional to its body size. A larger A. declavis would have larger femur and tooth compared to a smaller one. The female femur and tooth ratio has not been studied, but it is assumed that they play a role in the female-female battles and that the scaling is also increased with size. However, it was found that the females use these hind legs as warning display and as a visual signal for other A. declavis. More information can be found here: www.stri.si.edu/sites/publications/PDFs/1998_Ann_Ent_Soc_...
Leaf-Footed Bug!
I believe this to be the leaf-footed bug. Its classification is within the family of Coreidae and more specifically, it is within the species Acanthocephala declivis. This name translates from Greek meaning ‘sloping thorn head’. This bug was found on February 23, basking in the sun outside of the Village apartments at UNCW. This bug demonstrates the concepts of Intrasexual selection. The males will fight competing males by delivering a powerful squeeze in order to deter them from mates or food. The length of the back femur and its largest tooth are proportional to its body size. A larger A. declavis would have larger femur and tooth compared to a smaller one. The female femur and tooth ratio has not been studied, but it is assumed that they play a role in the female-female battles and that the scaling is also increased with size. However, it was found that the females use these hind legs as warning display and as a visual signal for other A. declavis. More information can be found here: www.stri.si.edu/sites/publications/PDFs/1998_Ann_Ent_Soc_...