While Cyprus boasts a rich tapestry of life in the Mediterranean, its fame lies more with its sun-drenched beaches than creepy crawlies. But thanks to curious beachgoers and their online inquisitiveness, scientists have stumbled upon a surprise guest: the giant water bug, also known as the toe biter.
A team led by Michael Hadjiconstantis (Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity of Cyprus), Iakovos Tziortzis (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus), and Kadir Boğaç Kunt (Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute) documented a surge in sightings of this behemoth along the east coast in 2020 and 2021.
This wasn't your average beach bug. Known to lurk in ponds and slow-moving freshwater, the giant water bug had never been seen in Cyprus before. However, established populations thrive in neighboring countries like Greece, Turkey, and Israel.
This "electric light bug," as it's sometimes called, is a fearsome predator. Reaching a length of up to 12 cm (almost 5 inches!), it hunts invertebrates, fish, turtles, and even birds. And to top it off, it has a nasty reputation for inflicting very painful bites if mishandled.
The first sightings came from surprised swimmers who encountered the bug's menacing size and appearance. These curious beachgoers didn't hesitate to reach out to experts or share photos and videos online, particularly on Facebook groups dedicated to biodiversity.
The researchers followed up by collecting some specimens for study. They also scoured online observation platforms like iNaturalist to track any additional reports. Additionally, they inspected nearby wetlands but came up empty-handed.
Seven sightings were documented in total: five gleaned from social media and two reported directly to the team. Two captured specimens were examined to confirm the species. The findings were published in the scientific journal "Travaux du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 'Grigore Antipa.'"
Given the toe biter's notoriety and the unsettling stories surrounding human encounters, the researchers believe it's unlikely these bugs went unnoticed for a long time. They theorize that a series of migration events might be responsible for their sudden appearance. These migrations could have been triggered by factors like a decline in food sources in the bugs' original habitat, or they could have been transported by wind or sea currents, as suggested by other researchers. The possibility of human introduction cannot be entirely ruled out either.
While the short timeframe of the sightings makes it too early to declare a permanent toe biter population on the island, further investigation is needed. This is where citizen science comes in. The researchers urge the public to be vigilant. "Naturalists with a penchant for spotting alien-like creatures," they say, "can play a crucial role in tracking the presence and potential establishment of this species through citizen science."
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