Heteronotus tree hoppers have a fake "ant" on their backs, presumably to foil predators.

Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Young assassin bugs are often ant mimics. This is a first-instar wheel bug, Arilus cristatus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A grazing herd of Cerastipsocus bark lice on a tree trunk in Argentina.

Los Reartes, Córdoba, Argentina
A colorful stink bug nymph (Pentatomidae) on a banana trunk.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
A flightless flat bug, Chelonoderus sp., from the northern Australian rain forests.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
A minute pirate bug (Anthocoridae).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
The friendly face of Triatoma sanguisuga, the eastern bloodsucking conenose, showing  the three-segmented beak it uses to bleed its victims.

Gray Summit, Missouri, USA
Triatoma sanguisuga, the eastern bloodsucking conenose, with a dime for scale.

Gray Summit, Missouri, USA
Triatoma sanguisuga, the eastern bloodsucking conenose.

Gray Summit, Missouri, USA
A flightless flat bug, Chelonoderus sp., from the northern Australian rain forests.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
A flightless flat bug, Chelonoderus sp., from the northern Australian rain forests.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
A flightless flat bug, Chelonoderus sp., from the northern Australian rain forests.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013