Paternal care behaviour of the giant water bugKirkaldyia deyrolli(Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) against ants

1. Although potentially vulnerable to predators, the offspring of subsocial insects are effectively protected by their parent(s). The female giant water bug K irkaldyia deyrolli lays its egg masses on the vegetation above the water surface in aquatic environments and the males supply the eggs with water and guard them against cannibalistic females until hatchling dispersal. Field observations showed that egg masses are attacked by ants if the...