Assassin Bug (Arilus cristatus)! I can't say it without gusto, it's such an exciting looking bug. I met a cheeky wingless nymph during lunch the other day. He thought to challenge me at a picnic table while I was eating. Even though I didn't know what it was at the time it looked crazy enough that I left it alone. Okay, I didn't totally leave it alone, I dueled with it using a bread stick but when I saw it fighting back I gave up. Good thing I did. Apparently they can give a nasty bite (even the nymphs!). They can pierce their prey with their beaks and inject salivary fluids into their victims to dissolve the soft tissues. Um, yummy. Even in humans it can take months for the bite to heal."The wheel bug is also noted to be very vicious in the wild, and cannibalistic behaviors between them have been noted; for example, nymphs preying on nymphs and the female feeding on the male after mating is concluded." -WikipediaThe moral of the story is: don't mess with these bad boy bugs!
Picture found at: Bug Guide
1 comment:
Ah, the assasin bug! I remember us hiding in the Ed Shed, reading insect fact cards one day. We pondered the venom of the little creature. Or was it poison? Haha!
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