View allAll Photos Tagged assassinbug
The assassin bug injects a paralyzing poison into its victims bringing death to other bugs or a very painful sting for humans. Also called a wheel bug... a mild mannered undercover disguise?
Wheel Bug Nymph. Photographed in Maryland.
Single frame, shot hand held. Canon 80D, Canon MPE macro lens, Canon twin macro flash. Aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/250, ISO 400, flash set to 1/16th power.
"Knowledge is power,"
Attributed to Sir Francis Bacon
Assassin bugs are in an order of True Bugs (order Hemiptera). They are related to Stink bugs and Shield bugs. Additionally they are distantly related to Water Striders and Water bugs.
Here's a link to more glorious bugs and lots of facts! Enjoy!
wildcolumbia.org/wildlife-guide/insects-of-northwest-oreg...
Walking outside one warm day, I saw what appeared to be a skinny bug holding perfectly still on this green leaf. What I'd found was an Assassin Bug. A bit of research led to this information (I'm glad I didn't try to touch this beauty! ;) : "The strong beak found on Assassin bugs is used to repeatedly, and violently, stab its prey to death, hence the name 'assassin'. This insect can also inflict terribly painful bites on careless humans and may be best left observed and not handled."
I finally managed to get a photo of a Spiny Assassin Nymph that I am happy with. These guys are kind of hard to photograph. They are very small, dark in coloration, their bodies reflect light, and they are skittish. Photographed in Maryland.
A focus stack of 4 images shot with the camera hand held. Canon 80D, Canon MPE lens, Canon twin flash, Aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/250, ISO 400.
Beware! Also referred to as the wheel bug, this is a vicious predator of garden pests and if handled can inflict an extremely painful bite to humans.
Assassin bug with a snack. The bug was on the move -- moving back deep inside the flower to feast, so the number of shots was limited.
Single shot, hand held with a raynox dcr-250 on my macro lens.
Assassin Bug (Gminatus australis)
I don't see a lot of these bugs.
This one was on an African Daisy today.
After 'chasing' this Assassin bug on the vegetation with my lens, I gave up, and took some shots of it on my thumb instead, where it sat quite happily!! Dorsal shot in comments (viewable large)
Forêt de Fontainebleau - France
The Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators; most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of non-predatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae, with a few species from South America noted for their ability to transmit Chagas disease. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable: they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and formidable curved proboscis (sometimes called a rostrum). Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.
A pair of Jagged Ambush Bugs, mating on a thistle head that has gone to seed. Same plant that hosted yesterday's small scale life-and-death drama; this thistle species produces multiple flower heads on branches extending from the main stalk.
These true bugs are only 3/8" to 1/2" long, but will attack prey much larger than themselves, principally wasps, hornets, bees, and various flies. Beekeepers don't like them.
Photographed in a roadside ditch at Rosefield, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
I believe this is a North American Wheel Bug nymph (Arilus cristatus) in the Family of Assassin Bugs - Reduviidae. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you for taking time from your busy day to view, fave and comment on my images. It is always appreciated.
© C. Statton DiFiori
The Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators; most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of non-predatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae, with a few species from South America noted for their ability to transmit Chagas disease. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable: they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and formidable curved proboscis (sometimes called a rostrum). Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.
Hemipteran bug of orange/red colour with black wings. There are a number of tubercles on the pronotum.
15 mm body length
© All rights reserved.
I finally got a photo of a Spiny Assassin Bug nymph that I am completely satisfied with. These guys are pretty tough to photograph. They are very small. They are dark in coloration and their exoskeletons reflect light. They are also ambush hunters. Which means that I usually find them on plants that they perfectly blend into. This little guy was kind enough to chill on a plant that contrasted with its coloration. Photographed in Maryland.