Jul 11
💃🛞☀️
seen from Germany
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from Switzerland
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Japan
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from United States
💃🛞☀️
a Common Assassin Bug, mouthparts extended as she sneaks up on an unsuspecting Grass-dart (who escaped unharmed). definitely some of my favourite photos I've ever taken, and such a fascinating moment to witness!
Common Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis) and Narrow-brand Grass-dart (Ocybadistes flavovittatus), April '24.
Above, Arilus cristatus a North American Wheel Bug, the largest terrestrial hemipteran, and assassin bug in the US, photographed and edited on my phone 🤳
Can I get some appreciation for the North American Wheel Bug? I am obsessed with it. The stupid little beak. The big wet eyes. The weird comb like eggs. The buzzsaw on its back... A peak Creature.
North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus), family Reduviidae, found across much of North America from Canada to Guatemala
In the Assassin Bug family.
Predatory on a wide variety of small invertebrates.
Reaching up to 1.5 inches in length, the males are smaller than the females.
Capable of delivering a painful "bite" or puncture with the proboscis.
Can be cannibalistic.
Capable of producing a small squeaking sound by rubbing the proboscis on the underside of its body.
photograph by Ryan Kaldari
Nymph (juvenile stage) - photograph by MacroGrant
EAT A TASTY BEETLE!!! - photograph by Andy McLemore
photograph by Marmelmm
i'm thinking about bugs
as adults, ambush bugs are tiny, sneaky, and in my case, rare enough to make photographing them a pain in the ass (although that doesn't stop me since they're some of my favorites). when they're nymphs like this Phymata monstrosa, all of those nightmarish qualities intensify and i only originally spotted it because it was having a feast in an area mysteriously full of diapriid wasps - the perfect pint-sized snack for this child
(August 8th, 2025)
This stubby little assassin bug hunts millipedes. You would think such an insect would be found, like, somewhere near millipede habitat, but this one was flitting along a stretch of sidewalk.
(Rhiginia cruciata, IN, 5/14/2026)
Bug of the Day
Is not stick
Is not walking stick
Is not stick bug
Is bug tho