This post highlights the gruesome, yet ingenious tactics of the Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (In Singapore, Acanthaspis sp. and Inara sp.) which I shot again on Friday night. This assassin bug sticks the corpses of it’s devoured prey (ants!) onto it’s back for camouflage and to hide it’s scent from other ants. On top of being an obvious “meat shield”, this also allows the assassin bug to infiltrate ant colonies while posing as one of their own. I have yet to photograph this bug attaching a corpse to it’s back, so it’s going to be high on my wish list!
There are at least 2 species of these assassin bug nymphs: Inara flavopicta and Acanthaspis. The nymphs are difficult to differentiate, but Inara tends to have a cleaner stack of corpses, while Acanthaspis may include some debris on its back.
Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (cf. Inara flavopicta)
Like a scene straight out from the recent Hannibal TV series (Episode 9: TROU NORMAND), this Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (Inara sp.) accumulates a gigantic stack of corpses on it’s back. It’s a wonder how it managed to maintain balance!
Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (cf. Inara flavopicta)
This Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug could walk about steadily despite the additional load.
Ant-snatching Assassin Bug (Inara sp.)
Another serial killer which I shot some time ago, had a slightly lower kill rate.
Assassin Bug (Inara sp.)
Even the tiny, younger Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug had a stack of it’s own!
Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (Inara sp.)
View from above shows that almost the entire body of the Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug had been covered by ant carcasses!
Ant-Snatching Assassin Bug (Inara sp.)
Despite finding these quite frequently, I couldn’t pass up shooting them each time.
Comb-Footed Spider (Theridion sp.)
Comb-Footed Spider , usually weaves silk cross-crossing over a leaf.
Comb-Footed Spider (Theridion sp.)
Wider view to show the web – yes it is almost always hanging upside down.
Comb-Footed Spider (Theridiidae)
A male Comb-Footed Spider , notice the enlarged palps, all ready to mate!
Comb-Footed Spider (Theridiidae)
Dorsal view of the Comb-Footed Spider , always important for records.
Centipede (Chilopoda)
We found a few young Centipedes on the tree trunks
Centipede (Chilopoda)
The body had hints of green
Issid Planthopper (Hemisphaerius sp.)
Issid Planthopper , ridiculously cute seed-like bug! Alex Wild jokingly called it Adorabilidae when I posted pictures of it on Facebook recently.
Issid Planthopper (Hemisphaerius sp.)
Did I mention that it is that adorable?
Ground Spider (Zodariidae)
Ground Spider , but not on the ground but resting on a tree trunk
Katydid (Tettigoniidae)
Interesting looking Katydid but it was too big to fit into my camera setup, hence the cropped legs.
Caged Pupa
Melvyn found this caged chrysalis. The caterpillar was probably a spiky one, and had used it’s spikes to build this protective cage while it is in this vulnerable and critical stage of it’s life.
Caged Pupa
View from the side, such a beautiful chrysalis!
Caged Pupa
The outer membrane was already transparent and we could see the antennae of the moth.
Orb Web Spider (Araneidae)
There were a number of these Orb Web Spiders which rested on dead leaves dangling on their webs.
Huntsman Spider (Pandercetes sp.)
Found a Lichen Huntsman Spider running about on a leaf.
Huntsman Spider (Pandercetes sp.)
This Lichen Huntsman Spider is a juvenile, measuring only 20mm with legs out-stretched
Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae)
One of the benefits of shooting at night, are the congregating Tiger Beetles
Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae)
I would usually give these Tiger Beetles a miss, but this pair was sleeping side by side and it looked like a good photo-op!
Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae)
Like brothers!
Daddy-Long-Legs Spider (Pholcidae)
A Daddy-Long-Legs Spider carrying her egg sac
Comb-Footed Spider (Janula sp.)
A beautiful but tiny Comb-Footed Spider . It has distinctly protruding red eyes!
Shooting this assassin bug took just about 10 minutes, so here are more finds from the night!!
I will be posting part II of this night’s trip shortly, with another subject that I have been hunting for the past year!!
The complete album can be viewed here.
