Family: Gelastocoridae (toad bugs)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum: Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Paraneoptera > Condylognatha > Hemiptera (bugs) > Heteroptera > Nepomorpha > Octeroidea

Unidentified toad bug with sand grains plastered on it to provide camouflage. Photographed on moist sand next to water in disturbed fynbos.

This is a small family of bugs, representatives of which are usually encountered on moist sand, mud or vegetable matter near water. They can be distinguished from other bugs by the broad head and prominent toad-like projecting eyes. They are predacious on insects.