Abedus immaculatus

(Say, 1832)

Abedus immaculatus is a of giant water bug in the Belostomatidae. It is the only Abedus species found in the eastern United States, with a range extending throughout Florida north into Georgia and west along the Gulf Coast to Mississippi. measure 13–14 mm in length, making them the smallest species in the Abedus and the smallest belostomatid in the United States. The species is the sole member of the subgenus Microabedus. It is locally common in parts of the Everglades, where it occurs in shorter hydroperiod sites.

Abedus immaculatus by (c) Matthew Pintar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matthew Pintar. Used under a CC-BY license.Abedus immaculatus by (c) Matthew Pintar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matthew Pintar. Used under a CC-BY license.Abedus immaculatus by (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Abedus immaculatus: /əˈbeɪ.dəs ɪˌmæk.jəˈleɪtəs/

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Identification

are distinguished from other Abedus by their small size (13–14 mm), making them the smallest in the . They are the only Abedus species occurring in the eastern United States, which provides geographic separation from found in western North America. The species is further distinguished by being the sole member of the subgenus Microabedus.

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Habitat

Associated with freshwater aquatic , particularly shorter hydroperiod sites in the Everglades and similar wetland systems throughout its range.

Distribution

Eastern United States: throughout Florida, north into Georgia, and west along the Gulf Coast to Mississippi.

Similar Taxa

  • Abedus herbertiLarger western ; A. immaculatus distinguished by smaller size and eastern distribution
  • Belostoma speciesOther giant water bugs in same ; A. immaculatus distinguished by -level characters and geographic range

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described by Thomas Say in 1832 as Belostoma fluminea var. immaculata. Redescribed as A. cantralli in 1950, with the two names synonymized to A. immaculatus in 1950.

Conservation status

Locally common in parts of the Everglades, though wetland loss may affect .

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Sources and further reading