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A Bug Date…
Two assassin bugs take advantage of the caterpillars in my yard to do what these bugs do best- namely combine love making with a little dinner. The female is on the bottom.
It is not clear if they are sharing, or if one of them has the meal all to itself.
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1 September 2008
at 7:14 p.m.
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liggyon (David Lignell) says…
Paul,
These two are clearly sharing their meal. How do I know? They were uninvited guests recently at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City the night I was desperate for a room after a delayed flight. I found these two under the covers of my bed, gorging themselves on a dish of caterpillars and strawberries. (Forget the whipping cream. They were too impatient for the finery of lovemaking.) The champagne was something I discovered added to my bill long after they had departed. They are blatant hedonists and exhibitionists, and quite frankly, I'm glad they've moved on to another garden.
1 September 2008
at 7:24 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
lol
1 September 2008
at 8:09 p.m.
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pdecell (Paul Decelles) says…
Dave,
Well, mine are Kansas bugs…they understand the fine art of love making. Lot's of 20 year olds could learn a thing or two about dating from Reduviids.
1 September 2008
at 8:47 p.m.
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liggyon (David Lignell) says…
Paul,
My apologies. I should have known by their tatoos that they were from Queens.
2 September 2008
at 11:13 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Always good to know you guy's “little” brains are engaged at all times.
;)
3 September 2008
at 10:36 p.m.
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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
I trust you'll be working your way up the evolutionary ladder with this photo series?
3 September 2008
at 10:43 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
hehehehe
4 September 2008
at 12:27 p.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
Is it just me or does there seem to be a larger number of assassin bugs this year?
4 September 2008
at 1:14 p.m.
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SandCoAlmanac (Anonymous) says…
Paul —
Back in the last century, I learned these as “Wheel bugs,” so named from the spikey crest on their dorsum. I'm wondering now if 'standing on your mate' counts as an additional, or simply a variation of one of the seven, basic mating positions. Nonetheless, it certainly will be added to my Gastronomical Reproduction file. Thanks, Paul!
5 September 2008
at 8:07 a.m.
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pdecell (Paul Decelles) says…
SandCo,
Some one has suggested to me that they bugs were not actually mating but that the male was guarding the female so she wouldn't get inseminated by other males. I haven't had a chance to look at the literature on this issue though.
This sort of guarding behavior is known from other insects so I wouldn't be surprised to see it here.
Tangential, actually in their own way these bugs are at the top of the “evolutionary ladder” so I will simply be hopping over to another spot on the ladder's top rung.
Maybe I should do a series on Paramecium sex.
gr,
I haven't noticed any obvious change in assassin bug numbers in my area so I don't know.
5 September 2008
at 8:53 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
Paul,
Maybe it's just that I'm noticing them more. I think I recall having seen them sucking the body fluids of a red cicada much larger than they are and wonder how much or lethal of poison they must inject to hold onto their prey without having gripping claws.
As far as determining if they were mating, didn't you look at the back end of them and see after taking the photo?
5 September 2008
at 11:26 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
lol gr!