野外におけるタガメによるニホンマムシの捕食事例

抄録

The giant water bug, subfamily Lethocerinae, which has the largest body size among Belostomatidae, is known to be a vertebrate specialist that preys mainly upon fish and amphibians. Here, I report that a giant water bug, Kirkaldyia (=Lethocerus) deyrolli (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae), was catching hold of a Japanese mamushi, Gloydius blomhoffii, in a pond. This is a first report of Lethocerinae eating a Viperid snake.