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elephantine water hemipteron that can deliver awful bites are invading the Mediterranean island of Cyprus , a study has found .
The bug , also called " toe biter , " belong to theLethocerusgenus , which includes bird - eating mintage that can grow to around 4.7 inch ( 12 centimeter ) long . research worker strike the fearsome germ with the supporter of swimmers on the island ’s east glide and warned the public to look out for more .
A giant water bug,
" Cypriots should keep their eyes open and their toe out of the piddle , " the study source say in astatementon March 20 . The researchers presented their findings in a study print Dec. 31 , 2023 , in theJournal of " Grigore Antipa " National Museum of Natural History .
Giant water bugs live in freshwater habitats such as ponds and Ngaio Marsh around the humanity , harmonise to theNational Park Service . They ’re equipped with pincer - like member and poisonous saliva , which take into account them to immobilise and sop up the liquidity out of their fair game . These hemipteran are also known to bite unsuspecting humans between the toe , hence why they ’re called " toe - biters , " though this bite is nonpoisonous and we ’re far too full-grown to be their prey .
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Lethocerusis found near Cyprus in the mainland res publica of Turkey , Lebanon , Israel and Egypt but has never before been detect on the island . In the new study , the squad look at military post on local Facebook mathematical group between 2020 and 2021 to compile records of the bug and learn more about their sudden arrival .
" The records reported in this study were base almost entirely on people who posted exposure and videos on societal media mathematical group requesting species determination , " the authors write in the bailiwick .
Seven elephantine body of water germ were record on the eastern lowland part of the island , and the researchers go out and found two of these specimen . The retrieved bugs belong to the speciesLethocerus patruelis , which can originate to about 3 inch ( 8 atomic number 96 ) long . However , the team could n’t distinguish the remaining bugs ' mintage from photo alone and so memorialize them asLethocerus .
The researchers suspect the bug vanish over from the mainland — but they ’re not sure why they crossed the open sea . One theory is that lights on the island ’s east coast draw the bugs . Another idea is that the bugs migrated to the island for food or were carried there by the elements .
" The specimens landed exhausted on the shoreline , or in some cases in the sea , which could signal that they were transfer by wind or sea flow from nearby state , " the authors wrote .
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While the researchers are positive these bug are newfangled to the island , and more could be coming , they do n’t thinkLethocerusis a threat to Cyprus ' ecosystem . The body politic has home ground similar to the mainland and hosts some of the bugs ' natural predators , including white stork ( Ciconia ciconia ) and dim kites ( Milvus migrans ) .
" This could ensure the biologic control condition of a possible established population , " the author write .
