CLOSED: Strange Bug from NZ

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
PastorM Tucson, AZ May 10, 2009

Its shaped a bit like an assassin bug. It had this weird way of carrying its front legs like a mantis. Also very fuzzy legs. Sorry about the pics; I took many of this guy but could not get one of the mouth parts.

Thumbnail by PastorM
Post #6531203
Quote
PastorM Tucson, AZ May 10, 2009

and a side view

Thumbnail by PastorM
Post #6531213
Quote
suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 11, 2009

This appears to be a thread-legged assassin bug; it resembles those in the genus Stenolemus found in Australia. Reportedly, they "...hunt spiders by aggressively mimicking insects caught in the web.”
(see http://tinyurl.com/qk2nru). You also might try locating a copy of "A Photographic Guide to Insects of New Zealand" by Parkinson and Horne - see http://tinyurl.com/qryat3 - and see if that helps.

Post #6531555
Quote
PastorM Tucson, AZ May 25, 2009

Wow. Thats very cool. Thank you much.

It must have been a rough season for spiders because I saw a giant wolf spider get taken out by a pirate spider the same day.

The Pirate Spider sat at the edge of the web for days. Then just when the wolf spider started to shed the Pirate ran up and continually bit it on the foot. The wolf spider was pretty much dead by the time it wiggled free of its skin.

Thumbnail by PastorM
Post #6596309
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP