Feather-legged Assassin Bug
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Ptilocnemis
- Species
- femoralis
- Family
- Reduviidae
- Super Family
- Reduvioidea
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Infraorder
- Cimicomorpha
- Order
- Hemiptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 1 cm
Feather-legged Assassin Bug
Image: M Bulbert© Australian Museum
Introduction
Assassin bugs are a large family of bugs that are found everywhere in Australia.The Feather-legged Assassin Bug is a specialist predator of ants.
Habitat
The Feather-legged Assassin Bug lives in urban areas, coastal heath, forests and woodlands.
Distribution
The Feather-legged Assassin Bug is found in eastern Australia.
Feeding and diet
Unlike most bugs which feed on plant juices, assassin bugs are predators. They ambush their prey, usually other insects such as beetles or caterpillars, piercing them with their curved mouthparts (rostrum). Once the prey has been punctured and is held fast, the assassin injects a powerful saliva. This fluid immobilises the prey and dissolves its tissues.
Feather-legged assassin bug has just pierced the neck of a Jumping Jack Ant and is about to feed on the internal fluids of its victim.
Image: Matthew Bulbert© Australian Museum
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Feather-legged Assassin Bug is a specialist predator of ants. They are found under the bark of eucalyptus trees. They position themselves somewhere on an ant trail with their long legs raised. This exposes a gland which produces a scent attractive to ants. When an ant investigates the gland and tastes the substance coming from it, it is the last thing it will do. The substance paralyses the inquisitive victim and the bug drives its rostrum into the ant. When the bug's digestive saliva juices have done their job, the ant is sucked dry.
