skip to Main Content

Wekiu Bug

Wekiu BugScientific Name: Nysius wekiuicola

Distribution: Summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa (above 13,000ft) on Hawaii Island.

Diet: Straw like mouth parts are used by most seed bugs to pierce and suck out the insides of seeds. But on the barren mountain summits there are no seeds, so the Wekiu Bug has adapted to sucking out the body fluids of dead and dying invertebrates that blow up from lowland valleys.

Biology:
Wekiu Bugs have adapted to their harsh and cold surroundings in several ways. They have shortened wings and lost the ability to fly.; they have long legs to aid in scrambling over rocky environments; and their blood contains glycerol which acts as an antifreeze in cold temperatures.

Back To Top