Toad Bugs could be mistaken for amphibians were it not for the very insect-like legs.
Toad Bugs not only look like toads, they leap like them, too. Found in wet and muddy habitats, Toad Bugs eat other insects and capture them by pouncing on them. They are well camouflaged and quite small, so finding one in nature may take effort and a keen eye.
Like the amphibian, Toad Bugs have large, bulging eyes and wide, round bodies. Some may have bumps and armor-like ridges. Skinny, stick-like legs are nothing like the fleshy, muscular legs that actual toads have, so they are a useful feature for recognizing that the tiny creature is an insect.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hemiptera
Family:Gelastocoridae
Genus:Various
Species:spp.
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Various spp.
Category:
True Bug
Size (Adult; Length): 6mm to 11mm (0.23in to 0.43in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Colors: brown
