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WanderingMogwai — Ambush Bug - Phymatinae
#ambush #bug #insect #macro #nature #photography #phymatinae
Published: 2016-06-29 02:51:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 633; Favourites: 31; Downloads: 0
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Description
My fist Ambush Bug of the year
Surprisingly, I found her right up close to the house. Last year was the first time to see one ever but that was way out in a meadow. I guess they're not shy.
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Comments: 23
I've never seen this particular brand of bug before. Lovely cryptic colours and a nice perch.
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Isn't it awesome? I was so excited the first time I found one. It was only like two years ago. Having always been a naturalist it always surprises and delights me to find something new in my old stomping grounds.
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Ah yes, that's where I'm blessed to live in the fynbos biome: it's difficult to go out and take an observational walk without see at least one new little critter or plant It's a pity that our knowledge of the microfauna of the Fynbos is still very/extremely poor though - a pity for amateurs like me at least, as it means the resources available for identification are of limited use.
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Most of my ID questions are answered at BugGuide.net They are an educational website charged with cataloging all things buggy for use by any/all universities in North America. A couple of time I've been the first person to officially document a species in my area. It's a warm fuzzy feeling...lol. But they are limited to North America. Once again I am blessed.
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We use ispot here, although when it comes to insects I'd have to say the experts can't keep up 
I've had one or two potential firsts, but never confirmed. One exciting one is a genus of butterflies whose caterpillars are parasitic on Anoplolepis ants. I've found caterpillars completely out of sync with the lifecycle of the species known to exist in the area, but we need the adult for identification and so far we've had no luck collecting a specimen.
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Carnivorous caterpillars! I only recently came to know those even exist! How cool!
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They have quite a complex lifecycle! The genus is Thestor and the species vary: some imitate ant larvae with pheromones their entire lifespan and are fed by the worker ants. Other imitate the queen. Others spend their first instar feeding on a species of bug in grasses, then prey on the ants, then move into the next and imitate the larvae...
It's really amazing. But unfortunately, it makes rearing them almost impossible
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Ooh, nice! I've never seen a green one.
Last fall I noticed a skipper moving in a very strange way on a goldenrod bloom; on closer inspection I found that the skipper was in the clutches of a perfectly-camouflaged yellow and brown ambush bug 1/3 its size. Adorable yet terrifying!
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They are a great find indeed. My first sighting was only last year. Really blew my mind
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Cool! Where do they get the name "ambush bug?"
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Thanks! They are called that because they actually ambush other insects to capture and eat
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Crafty little devils!
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How are yours doing? Any sightings yet?
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