Ambush Bugs - Do You Keep Them?

[cacoseraph]

Ambush Bugs - Do You Keep Them?
Ambush bugs are a true bug (Heteroptera) that are consummate predators. They are not a large bug, as they generally top out at around 1cm body length. But what they lack in size they make 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 commonly found of the ambush bugs. It ranges from parts of Canada, all through the USA, to at least as far south as Mexico. Phymata can also be found in Europe and possibly other parts of the world. Phymata have strongly raptorial 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 a fairly narrow range of body shapes. The general body shape is like a true bug with front legs modified to raptor appendages and body ornamented with many little processes and "extrusions". Mature Phymata possess functional wings (as do most true bugs, i think) but are not gifted fliers in the least. They tend to have poor object avoidance, especially for objects in motion. They are also not the speediest of runners, as their raptorial legs are ill suited to helping them in moving. A lack of ability to chase down prey, combined with the coloration and body shape is why these cool little bugs are known as ambush bugs. Typical hunting behavior for Phymata involves finding a prime looking flower to wait on and remaining motionless, letting their camouflage do the work for them.


IMAGES:
Body Shape & Color:
. top view, shows general body shape --> http://www.robsplants.com/images/cri...mata040913.jpg ( http://www.robsplants.com/critters/bugbeetles.php )
. cool frosted green color --> http://www.virginmedia.com/digital/s...hy.php?ssid=12
. yellow & brown bug --> http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/...2099e695fc.jpg ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/7383661@N08/1239588355/ )
. green legs & brown body --> http://www.stevenanz.com/Main_Direct...ymata_2233.jpg ( http://www.stevenanz.com/Main_Direct...ymata_2233.htm )
. white & brown --> http://tolweb.org/tree/ToLimages/Phymata-crassipes.jpg ( http://tolweb.org/onlinecontributors...ternal&sp=7925 )




Hunting:
. bagging a bee --> http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/r...ae/Phymata.jpg ( http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/r...uviidPics.html )
. bagging a butterfly --> http://magickcanoe.com/insects/phyma...rfly-large.jpg ( http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/07/...n-the-phymata/ )
. bagging a fly --> http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/~cha...h/bugclose.jpg ( http://10000birds.com/toronto-monarc...bushed-fly.htm )

[Bill S]

My wife has raised a number of assassin bugs, reduviids, bee-killers or whichever name you choose for them. We both work with Triatoma (kissing bugs) and every once in a while we find early instar assassins in pack rat nests. We also find them while blacklighting for insects and during other collecting. Since they are typically difficult to identify as immatures, we raise them to adulthood. They are usually pretty easy to keep and are often very cool/strange looking animals as immatures. Some are ready and willing to deliver a very painful bite, so you would want to be careful in handling them - but otherwise they make good captives. A large vial with some tissue paper in it makes a pretty good container for small assassins. Slightly larger containers for larger bugs. Crickets are good food items, although very tiny bugs can be fed fruit flies.

[cacoseraph]

right on, thanks for your answer


that is awesome that both you and your wife are bug ppl

[Bill S]

Originally Posted by cacoseraph

that is awesome that both you and your wife are bug ppl

We both started out as herp people, and migrated into bugs - with a little prodding from a bunch of other family members. My wife's mother's cousin was a professor of entomology, her brother is an entomologist, and my brother and cousin are both arachnologists. And several other family members are horticulturists or other bio-type people. How could we NOT have been a little bit buggy?

[Wade Harrell]

I've reared a number of assassin species, but never ambush bugs. I've always assumed that since they like to lie in wait on a flower for flying insects that they would be difficult to maintain. Can they be reared like other Reduviids?

Wade

[BugsInCyberspace.com]

I kept adults alive on fruit flies for a month or so. I collected these on the flowers pictured in the San Bernadino Mtns. in California, 2001.

http://bugsincyberspace.com/ambush_bug.html