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Studies on the Protease and Other Enzymes from the Venom of Lethocerus cordofanus

Abstract

Lethocerus cordofanus Mayr is a giant water bug of the Hemipteran family Belostomatidae. It is an aquatic predator existing principally, though not exclusively, on fish. Its mode of feeding is to hold the prey with its forelimbs and inject it with a salivary gland secretion through its proboscis. After 10–15 min the interior of the prey is liquefied, and the water bug feeds by sucking the liquid from the husk, again through its proboscis. The behaviour of animals of this genus, which are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, has been described in some detail1.

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REES, A., OFFORD, R. Studies on the Protease and Other Enzymes from the Venom of Lethocerus cordofanus. Nature 221, 675–677 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221675a0

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