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Phymata sp.
Both ambush bug adults & nymphs are predators of a wide variety of insects including bees, wasps, flies, caterpillars, beetles & aphids. These tiny true bugs are well camouflaged and will hide in foliage or flowers and wait for prey. Mating occurs with the male mounted on the female's side - When males (sometimes multiple males) are seen on top of the female, it is thought that this enables them to take larger prey and is called 'coupling'.
Most of North America. Flowers in open or semi-open habitats.
Spotted on Sep 1, 2012
Submitted on Mar 14, 2013
27 Comments (1–25)
Thank you so much Project Noah and thank you everyone for your kindness!
Congratulations !
Awesome spotting, congratulations Small Wonders (Kim)! Very cool!
Congratulations Kim. And thanks for the explanation about coupling vs. mating. I didn't see as many ambush bugs this past summer and I am looking forward to many more discoveries as soon as it warms up. This is one of my favorites of yours. They are so cool looking and this is a great macro. Congrats on SOTD!!
Congratulations -well deserved !. Amazing insects and great information -thanks Small Wonders.
Congratulations on a well-deserved Spotting of the Day! Cool informations on the coupling. I always thought they were mating. I like the teamwork!
Congratulations Kim on the SOTD, super!
Great spotting !! Congratulations !
This is a wonderful picture! I've always wanted to see one of these. Congratulations on SOTD, well deserved!
Congratulations ! Wonderful...
Congratulations Kim!
CONGRATS!!!
Beautiful! Congratulations!
Congratulations for such a beautiful photo and the much deserved SoTD.
Congrats Kim!
Great shot!
Congrats Kim! This great capture has been chosen as spotting of the day!
Ambush bugs are predators; they wait on or near flowers for insects to come close by, then grab their prey with their front legs.
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Thanks Forest Dragon! It's been added :)
Thanks Maria :)
Beautiful photo! This would be a nice addition to the Eastern Assassin Bugs mission (it's global): http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/7964...
Fantastic shot!
Thanks Karen! It has taken a of couple of years & many photos to finally have a clear image :)
Bravo Kim - I know how tricky it is to photograph these tiny bugs!
Actually they are not mating. This is called coupling, thought to help them catch larger prey, which explains the long duration. Supposedly, the male mounts the female from the side when they are mating :)
I love ambush bugs. They do like mating for a very long time.