David Element's Wildlife Web Page Bugs 21

David Element

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_______________________ Bugs 21 - Assassin Bugs 1

ASSASSIN BUG Rhinocoris iracundus

ASSASSIN BUG Rhinocoris cuspidatus

It’s curtains for an unfortunate Digger Wasp. It has met with the rather unpleasant fate of being trapped firmly by an Assassin Bug Rhinocoris iracundus (how could it be anything other than predatory with a name like this?), having the re-curved beak-like rostrum (feeding apparatus) inserted and then being sucked dry, finally being discarded as an empty husk once the bug has topped up its energy supplies. These large bugs capture their prey by stealth and their warning colours would suggest that they are unpalatable to predators. Their bite is said to be painful and they have toxic saliva so they should not be handled. When not in use the segmented rostrum is tucked away underneath the body. This photograph was taken in the south of France. The second photograph illustrates a close relative Rhinocoris cuspidatus dishing out similarly lethal treatment to a hapless fly in Tuscany. These insects are absent from the UK.