in addition to being ugly, these guys are also called "kissing bugs" because of the big gross hickey they leave behind. AND they cause dangerous allergic reactions. also i recommend NEVER hitting one with a shoe. bloody globby icky devastation
February 20, 2009
Anonymous said...
In Central and South America, these guys are the vector for Chagas disease.
In the Eastern US, we have a common relative called a wheel-bug that has one of the most painful bites in nature. The bite of an assassin bug is pretty painless, but the bite of a wheel bug is like being pierced with a red hot dagger.
February 20, 2009
Anonymous said...
I love assassin bugs, especially the nymphs.
Here's one near H.P. Lovecraft’s grave in Providence RI.
I found one of these in my house a few years ago. Apparently some of them can secrete a sort of glue which makes small things stick to them and camoflauges them using elements from the environment they live in.
I don't know if you noticed but this post doesn't have a title.
[you can delete this after you've read it]
March 20, 2009
Joe informed me that Wikipedia's picture of the day today features the assassin bug. The assassin bug, pictured here (via Wikipedia), isn't terribly assassin-looking. I would have preferred ninja garb, or a trench coat with the collar turned up, or maybe a three-piece suit and a tommy gun, but oh well. I guess a chitin carapace and a blood-sucking siphon for a tongue will do. And I'm sure there are some good nodules and bumps and hooks int here, too.
[Image]Watch the video below and see where the ugly kicks in. Watch a baby (nymph) assassin bug dine on the blood of a bat (touche,bat). And then check out this link for more photos of assassin bugs in action.
Thanks, Joe.
posted by Raging Wombat at 12:35 PM on Feb 20, 2009
5 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formin addition to being ugly, these guys are also called "kissing bugs" because of the big gross hickey they leave behind. AND they cause dangerous allergic reactions. also i recommend NEVER hitting one with a shoe. bloody globby icky devastation
February 20, 2009
In Central and South America, these guys are the vector for Chagas disease.
In the Eastern US, we have a common relative called a wheel-bug that has one of the most painful bites in nature. The bite of an assassin bug is pretty painless, but the bite of a wheel bug is like being pierced with a red hot dagger.
February 20, 2009
I love assassin bugs, especially the nymphs.
Here's one near H.P. Lovecraft’s grave in Providence RI.
Assassin in the mist
February 21, 2009
I found one of these in my house a few years ago. Apparently some of them can secrete a sort of glue which makes small things stick to them and camoflauges them using elements from the environment they live in.
This one was camoflauged like a dust bunny.
February 23, 2009
I don't know if you noticed but this post doesn't have a title.
[you can delete this after you've read it]
March 20, 2009