Systelloderes unique-headed bug (Enicocephalidae) Urbana, Illinois, USA
Systelloderes
Systelloderes unique-headed bug (Enicocephalidae). Insects in this ancient lineage diverged from other Heteroptera prior to the evolution of the half-sclerotized wing that marks the rest of the group. Thus, enicocephalid wings are fully membranous. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Abedus
A male Abedus water bug carries hatched and hatching eggs on his back. Stebbins Reserve, California, USA
Lethocerus
Lethocerus water bugs are predaceous insects over an inch long. California, USA.
Belostoma sp. giant water bug. Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
Microvelia
Riffle bugs are small relatives of water striders that share the same water surface habitat. Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station, Texas, USA.
Triatoma sanguisuga
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
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
Zelus longipes
The Milkweed Assassin Bug, a predatory insect, has converged on the same aposematic black and orange coloration of many milkweed-feeding species. Austin, Texas, USA.
A mating tangle of milkweed assassin bugs, with the larger female feeding on a sweat bee, paired with a male, while a third male jockeys for position. Austin, Texas, USA.
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant. Arizona, USA. filename: Zelus1
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Phymata
Phymata ambush bugs are sit and wait predators. Champaign, Illinois, USA
Arilus cristatus - wheel bug (Reduviidae). Urbana, Illinois, USA
Arilus cristatus
A wheel bug nymph feeds from a long-jawed orb weaver it has caught. Austin, Texas, USA.
A wheel bug nymph feeds on a long-jawed orb weaver it has caught. Austin, Texas, USA.
Arilus cristatus, the wheel bug. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Face to face with a wheel bug, Arilus cristatus (Reduviidae). Urbana, Illinois, USA
Arilus cristatus, the wheel bug, is a predatory insect common in the eastern United States. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Arilus cristatus (Reduviidae) wheel bug nymph and hatching egg cluster. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Arilus cristatus (Reduviidae) wheel bug nymph Urbana, Illinois, USA
Narvesus carolinensis
This assassin bug arrived to a midsummer blacklight in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Frit flies (Chloropidae: Conioscinella) steal hemolymph from the kill of a spined assassin bug (Reduviidae: Sinea). East Brooklyn, Illinois, USA
A tiny frit fly (Chloropidae: Conioscinella) steals a bit of hemolymph from the kill of an assassin bug (Reduviidae: Sinea). East Brooklyn, Illinois, USA
This assassin bug nymph (Reduviidae: Emesinae) hunts spiders in their webs. Armenia, Belize
Assassin bug nymph (Reduviidae: Emesinae) Armenia, Belize
A minute pirate bug (Anthocoridae). Urbana, Illinois, USA
Minute pirate bugs (Anthocoridae) are common insects, but their small size means they often go unnoticed. Urbana, Illinois, USA
This alydid bug is a mimic of the ant Camponotus sericeiventris. Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
This alydid bug is a mimic of the ant Camponotus sericeiventris. Notice how the light bands on the waist provide the illusion of a narrow ant petiole. Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Alydidae
A cluster of bug eggs on the underside of a Pavonia rock rose. Austin, Texas, USA.
Newly emerged broad-headed bugs are little more than a feeding spear attached to a head capsul and legs. Austin, Texas, USA.
Hyalymenus tarsatus
The reddish color on this Texas bow-legged bug indicates a recent molt. It will darken as it ages. Austin, Texas, USA.
