David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
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Bugs
21 - Assassin Bugs
ASSASSIN BUG Rhinocoris cuspidatus
- It was curtains for an
unfortunate Digger
Wasp. It has met with the rather unpleasant fate of being
trapped firmly by an Assassin
Bug Rhinocoris cuspidatus
(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.
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