“Assassin bug species vary greatly in both size and coloration. Many are small (1/2 inch) and green or brown. Others such as the large wheel bug grow to 1.5 inches are gray in color and have a distinctive, cog-wheel shaped thorax. Assassin bugs have an elongated, narrow head, a long, three-segmented beak, and an abdomen often widened at the middle exposing the margins of the segments beyond the wings. Assassin bugs have as aggressive behavior and are not afraid to attack creatures much larger than themselves. They will inflict a very painful bite to humans if handled carelessly, causing a severe reaction in some persons. The assassin bug is named so because of its ambush-like way of hunting its prey. They stab the insect, inject a lethal toxin that dissolves the victim’s tissue, and then suck out the liquefied tissue through a modified mouthpart ‘beak’. They generally hunt on various forms of vegetation, such as trees, weeds, and bushes and tend to be poor fliers.” (Source)
15 thoughts on “Day 123: Assassin Bug”
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ACK ! – and I find that we have them down here, too ! I doubt I’ve ever seen one, I can happily state: they are not appealing. The photo, however, is great !
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Thank you! The general consensus is that this insect is ugly so you are not alone in your opinion. 😀
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I love these bugs! Always see bunches, can you believe.
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Absolutely! I would believe that!
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Poor fliers? Yikes, the fact that they fly at all is too scary!
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I know exactly what you mean! 🙂
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Yes, I was bitten a few weeks ago by an insect that would not let go of my hand. I finally pulled it off I now think it was the assassin bug.. Each to their own but I was rather astonished by its tenacity to keep a hold on my hand.
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Nature is pretty amazing! 🙂
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An amazing picture Jackie! Though I wouldn’t want to get too close knowing they bite, having just had a run in with a horsefly yesterday 😦
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Thanks so much! Oh no! You poor thing – horsefly bites are horrible. 😦
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I know right….evil little beastie got me as I was pegging out washing – clothes seemingly aren’t an issue either – straight in with it’s hypodermic needle tongue THROUGH my leggings!!!! I just hope I don’t react more in a couple of days, already the bite is the size of a golf ball 😦
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I feel so bad for you! I hope the reaction passes soon. (((big hug)))
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Thanks Jackie 😀
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Oh when we first moved here, with a woods behind us, my son Dylan, then 12, brought one to show me, in a jar. I had never seen one before and thought it was the ugliest thing I ever saw. I’ve seen many since, and still don’t like them at all, lol! Now you’ve taught me that they will actually bite a person, which I never knew. I was avoiding them anyway…………thanks.
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You’re welcome! They are not the prettiest or nicest of insects but that’s the way it goes in nature. 🙂
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