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*Miles to go...* for Peter Ross (53)
smitha
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 284 W: 77 N: 905]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (3429) | Dear All,
This picture is dedicated to Peter Ross (Batu) for his amazing contributons to TN. His pictures and notes are a treasure trove in the field of Entamology.Thank you peter for sharing your excellent work with us.
Zelus longipes (Milkweed Assassin Bug)
Classification:
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Genus Zelus
Species longipes (Milkweed Assassin Bug)
Identification:
Distinctive orange-and-black assassin bug. The head is narrow and elongate with a neck-like constriction behind the compound eyes. The mouthparts are produced into a 3-segmented beak that curves to fit into a grove on the underside of the thorax. Abdomen often widened to expose the top surface beyond the wing margins. Front legs often somewhat enlarged to aid in prey capture.
Habitat:
Found on trees and shrubs where its bright markings make it quite conspicuous.
Food:
These predacious bugs suck body fluids from prey, such as small to medium sized armyworms, earthworms, rootworm and cucumber beetle adults and other soft bodied insects.
Life Cycle
As with all Hemiptera, assassin bugs have incomplete metamorphosis with egg, nymph, and adult stages. In warm months, females lay eggs which are stuck in clusters to leaves and stems. After hatching, the wingless nymphs grow and molt 4 times (some species molt 7 times) before becoming full-sized, winged adults. Adults are usually the over wintering stage.
Many assassin bugs have been known to bite humans when not handled carefully. For some species the bite is known to be very painful, sometimes causing allergic reactions and bites can become infected, as with any wound.
I found these bugs on the Okra(Lady's finger) plant in our vegetable garden. There were quite a few of them, single or in mating pairs, either on the plant or on the ground.They were constantly on the move and it was very difficult to focus.
Some Exif data:
Camera : Nikon D300
Lens : Nikor 105mm F/2.8D
Aperture : F/14
Shutter Speed: 1/60
ISO : 200
Flash : Yes
The picture was cropped, sharpened and resized for TN using CS3.
** I have uploaded a picture of the mating bugs in the WS.
Thank you for stopping by.
Regards,
Smitha. |
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