AzurePhoenix Posted May 2, 2005 Share Posted May 2, 2005 Basically, I found this small, mantis-like insect on a flower in my yard. I believe it isn't really a mantis in the true sense of the word (maybe a relative?), but when you see the real thing, it's long forelegs are held and waved about in a similar fashion, and the abdomen has rows of spines or barbs. I'd like to know what it is, but none of my books have anything like it. If it helps, I live in central Arizona. Fortunately I have a good digital camera, so here it is..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevermore Posted May 2, 2005 Share Posted May 2, 2005 That could be a male european mantid nymph, depending on your location. If you are, as I thought, in AZ; then it very well could be. A word of caution: Mantisis can snip off your finger easily, don't provoke them. Especially the females. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 2, 2005 Author Share Posted May 2, 2005 I'll watch out for this little guy, but he's about a third the size of a Lacewing. Thanx, but I'm not so sure. I'm fairly certain it's a mature adult. We have rather large, basic mantises around here in large numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhDP Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 If you could get your hand on this book; Johnson, N.F. and Triplehorn, C.A. 2004. Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th ed. Brooks Cole. 864 p. And really it's a great pictures, I'm curious to know what species it is, however I don't think it's a mantid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 8, 2005 Author Share Posted May 8, 2005 Thanx, I'll give it a shot. And yeah, I know it's not a mantid, but I don't know what the hell it might actually be, so that's how I'm referring to it for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhDP Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 It might be from the order Hemiptera (true bugs), and more precisely from the family Berytidae (Stilt bugs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reverse Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I know there are some forms of spider that simulate their prey. Perhaps it is a specialised spider, that preys upon mantis young? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 9, 2005 Author Share Posted May 9, 2005 Certainly not. It had true antenna, two eyes, vestigial wings, and six articulated appendages, as well as three "body segments" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reverse Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Yea I know, I just wanted to throw in some sense of the diversity of the insect kingdom in there somewhere. Those spike like structures protruding from the rear look like a starting point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ag4gt Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I think it is an assasin bug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glider Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I agree. It looks like an assasin bug to me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Have you seen him feed? If he injects prey for external digestion, he could be an assassin bug. Assassin bugs usually have one combo injection/feeding tube to do this instead of two seperate ones. There's over 3000 species of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 9, 2005 Author Share Posted May 9, 2005 I tried to wait and see him catch something (there was only that last flower on the bush), but it got dark. I've been going back to the flower, but I haven't seen him. I'll do a web-search for some assassins, see if anything turns up. I'll grab a few bug books at the library todayor tomorrow too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darth tater Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I think it is what we used to call "walking stick." http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/walkingstick.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callipygous Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 seems a bit too colorful, and not quite lanky enough. dont stick bugs tend to be brown, so they look like, you know... sticks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 10, 2005 Author Share Posted May 10, 2005 there are many stick bugs, but no, this thing was definitely predatory, it was sitting tight on that flower waiting for a meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callipygous Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 as for the assassin bugs... all the pictures i can find online seem to show a feeding tube going back under the head. its hard to tell, but the creature in your picture doesnt seem to have one. are there species of assassin bug that dont have this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 all the pictures i can find online seem to show a feeding tube going back under the head. its hard to tell, but the creature in your picture doesnt seem to have one.Neither shot really shows the underside of the head. I think it can tuck up under a bit when not in use.are there species of assassin bug that dont have this?I think that's one of the things that distinguishes them. Most bugs that small that digest externally have one tube for the corrosive juices and another tube for feeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 10, 2005 Author Share Posted May 10, 2005 I jut zoomed in on a photo I hadn't realized i had. The folded beak is cearly there. An assassin bug it is, albeit an especially exotic one. I'll post closeup pics as soon as my new Dell gets hooked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 I'll post closeup pics as soon as my new Dell[/b'] gets hooked up. Someone had a nice birthday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted May 10, 2005 Author Share Posted May 10, 2005 Yeah, and yesteday, I caught an adorable little Peach-Faced Lovebird in the park by my house. She's so sweet and friendly, and she keeps climbing into my clothes and fluttering around the house (I know that sounds normal, but it's hot here, so we leave the fans on) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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