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Ambush Bugs - Do You Keep Them?
Total Views: 219 - Total Replies: 1
May 11 2009, 11:58 am - By cacoseraph
Private Message	Ambush bugs are a true bug (Heteroptera) thatare consummate predators.  They are not a large bug, as they generallytop out at around 1cm body length.  But what they lack in size theymake up for in beauty and feeding ability! The taxonomic placement of ambush bugs is a little unclear to me. I have seen them as their own family (Phymatidae) and as a sub-family(Phymatinae) of Reduviidae, the Assassin family. Their are at least two genera of ambush bugs worthy of consideration: . . Phymata is the nominate genus and by far the most commonlyfound of the ambush bugs.  It ranges from parts of Canada, all throughthe USA, to at least as far south as Mexico.  Phymata have stronglyraptorial forelegs which are used to snare and spear prey items. . . Macrocephalus (big-head) is another genus, but found far less often and will not be the concentration of this mini-article. Phymata species come in a wide range of colors and patterns, but afairly narrow range of body shapes.  The general body shape is like atrue bug with front legs modified to raptor appendages and bodyornamented with many little processes and "extrusions".  Mature Phymatapossess functional wings (as do most true bugs, i think) but are notgifted fliers in the least.  They tend to have poor object avoidance,especially for objects in motion.  They are also not the speediest ofrunners, as their raptorial legs are ill suited to helping them inmoving.  A lack of ability to chase down prey, combined with thecoloration and body shape is why these cool little bugs are known asambush bugs.  Typical hunting behavior for Phymata involves finding aprime looking flower to wait on and remaining motionless, letting theircamouflage do the work for them. IMAGES: Body Shape & Color: . top view, shows general body shape --> http://www.robsplants.com/images/critters/Phymata040913.jpg ( http://www.robsplants.com/critters/bugbeetles.php ) . cool frosted green color --> http://www.virginmedia.com/digita...es/insect-photography.php?ssid=12 . yellow & brown bug --> http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/1239588355_2099e695fc.jpg ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/7383661@N08/1239588355/ ) . green legs & brown body --> http://www.stevenanz.com/Main_Dir...0720_PA/original/phymata_2233.jpg ( http://www.stevenanz.com/Main_Dir...080720_PA/source/phymata_2233.htm ) . white & brown --> http://tolweb.org/tree/ToLimages/Phymata-crassipes.jpg ( http://tolweb.org/onlinecontribut...&service=external&sp=7925 ) Hunting: . bagging a bee --> http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/reduviidae/Phymata.jpg ( http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/reduviidae/ReduviidPics.html ) . bagging a butterfly --> http://magickcanoe.com/insects/phymata-butterfly-large.jpg ( http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/07/27/more-on-the-phymata/ ) . bagging a fly --> http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/~charlie/monarch/bugclose.jpg ( http://10000birds.com/toronto-monarchs-and-an-ambushed-fly.htm )
	love my locals

May 11 2009, 2:49 pm - Replied by: Arachno_Veteran
Private Message	They are awesome! I wish I was keeping them!

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