This insect must think it's a toad. It hangs out along the muddy shores of lakes and rivers, and its huge eyes give it a toad-ish look. Plus, it feeds on a favorite toad food-insects. Though toad bugs have six legs, like all other insects, they prefer to hop from place to place, just like toads! The toad bug outdoes its namesake in one way: it uses spiked claws to hold down prey and keep it from escaping.
Bug Eyes: Many insects have poor vision that barely allows them to tell light from dark, but toad bugs are different. These insects have huge eyes that help them see prey clearly and track their movements so the bugs can pounce with precision.
Tight Grip: A toad bug's front legs are hinged and spiked, much like those of a praying mantis. The insect grabs smaller insects in its "claws", and the spikes stab into the victims to make sure they can't wiggle free.
Toad Wannabe[]
This bug blends in with the pebbles on the shores of rivers and lakes.
After one look at a toad bug, it's easy to see how the creatures got their name. Their big eyes are set wide on their heads and their shells are covered in bumps, just like a toad's warty skin. Plus, these insects spend so much time near freshwater shores, they often end up with splashes of mud on their backs that match a toad's coloring. When it hops along the shore, instead of walking, the bug completes its strange imitation.
Swift Bug: Toad bugs can move quickly, but only when they choose to. They prefer ambush-style hunting, and sit still near the water until they spot an insect. The bugs then pounce on prey, which rarely stand a chance.
Suck it Up: Hidden under a toad bug's body are short mouthparts that form a sharp, hollow weapon. When the insect pounces on its victims, it jabs this "straw" deep into the prey's body, fills it with digestive juices and sucks out the resulting "soup."
On the Fly[]
- With poor eyesight that barely lets it make out shapes, a fly doesn't realize the danger it's in when it lands on the muddy shore of a pond. The toad bug that's sitting nearby patiently watches the fly's arrival and gets ready to strike.
- In one quick hop, the toad bug lands on its victim before the fly realizes the attack is coming. The toad bug grabs the fly in its pincers and unfurls its stabbing jaws. because it couldn't react fast enough, the fly is doomed.