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Project Noah Nature School
Anilus cristatus
Family: Reduviidae (assassin bugs) Size: 1.50 inches long not including antennae (3.81 cm) Dark Gray and brown with cog-like wheel and long, thin head with very long legs and long, sharp and dangerous injector beak. Feeds on soft bodied invertebrates such as caterpillars. Very slow moving and non-aggressive. Has wings and does fly occasionally.
Meadow with plentiful flowers and weeds to hide among.
Do not handle because of the danger of possibly getting "stung" with the long injector. I had to hold the goldenrod still because this was the third try of a video on account of the wind. (Yes, it really does go upside-down in Photo #3)
Spotted on Sep 21, 2012
Submitted on Sep 25, 2012
10 Comments
Amazing Carol.Would be really interested in the out come. Good Luck! Very exciting!!
I have taken 2 videos recently and the male grabs onto the female wheel for mating (because a lot of it is done upside-down). And also today, the position of the wheel shifts right before take-off. I am trying to observe them taking photos and videos as much as possible to solve this mystery.
They have not done much research on the wheel.
It could be used to cut it's way through foliage. Also the wind could rush through the wheel and make a buzzing,warning sound to predators.Maybe we will find out one day!
Thanks! I see many of these most days, but they still fascinate me.
We use a similar device for shredding coconut.
The only explanation is that the wheel might intimidate potential predators (it is its defense). A good one at that.
I just posted another link. That is an excellent question Emma and I wondered that myself. Experts do not know the reason for the wheel. But I did learn that the injector in your skin hurts 10 x worse than a hornet sting and the bite area takes months to heal.
That's a good question, Emma, and I had a gentleman ask me that today! I told him I had no idea other than to help make the insect look larger and more menacing to potential predators. *shrug*
What purpose does the wheel serve?
Love the video!