rhamphotheca: Assassin Bug Carries the Ants It Has Killed This bug looks like it’s made a killing carrying a remarkable number of dead bodies on its back to stop it becoming lunch. As this gruesome picture shows this insect has at least 20 ants on its back which according to scientists confuse potential predators like jumping spiders.  The aptly named assassin bug uses the dead bodies, as a defence mechanism to fend off enemies. Photographer Hock Ping Guek, from Malaysia, decided to document the amazing camouflage strategy using macro photography.  He said: ‘The behaviour is indeed absolutely fascinating. They prey on ants, inject enzyme into the ant preys and suck the ants dry, then put the dead bodies on their back for camouflage, most likely as a form of defence against other predator like jumping spiders…” (read more: The Daily Mail UK)

rhamphotheca:

Assassin Bug Carries the Ants It Has Killed

This bug looks like it’s made a killing carrying a remarkable number of dead bodies on its back to stop it becoming lunch. As this gruesome picture shows this insect has at least 20 ants on its back which according to scientists confuse potential predators like jumping spiders.  The aptly named assassin bug uses the dead bodies, as a defence mechanism to fend off enemies.

Photographer Hock Ping Guek, from Malaysia, decided to document the amazing camouflage strategy using macro photography. 

He said: ‘The behaviour is indeed absolutely fascinating. They prey on ants, inject enzyme into the ant preys and suck the ants dry, then put the dead bodies on their back for camouflage, most likely as a form of defence against other predator like jumping spiders…”

(read more: The Daily Mail UK)

Posted on 2 October, 2012, 11:33am. Reblogged from sadnessfactory and Originally from rhamphotheca. This post has 712 notes.
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    Nature gets even more serious.
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    This bug is the hardest dude on the planet
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    Holy shit!
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