What is this insect's name - Bee Killer??

pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
edited September 16, 2006 in Wildlife
While shooting butterflies yesterday, I found this little insect.

It is about 4-5 cm long.

It had killed and was eating a bee. I have not seen a bee eating insect previously.

Anyone know what it is called??

95434092-L.jpg

95434694-L.jpg
Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin

Comments

  • Barefoot and NaturalBarefoot and Natural Registered Users Posts: 586 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    pathfinder wrote:
    While shooting butterflies yesterday, I found this little insect.

    It is about 4-5 cm long.

    It had killed and was eating a bee. I have not seen a bee eating insect previously.

    Anyone know what it is called??



    I don't what it's name is but I wonder if it can hurt you??
    I have never seen an insect that could kill a bee!!

    Very very wild.......and GREAT capture toothumb.gif
  • Dramatapix®Dramatapix® Registered Users Posts: 430 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    It looks like an assassin bug.

    Look here for the Wheel Bug:

    http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/bugs/assassin/assassin.htm#wheel
    My Gear: D200, D80, 50 f/1.4, 28-75 f/2.8, 55-200 f/4-5.6, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 70-200 f2.8, (4) White Lightning Ultra 1200's, SB600, (2) Lightspheres, 17" Macbook Pro, 24" Apple Imac, Thinkpad T42, Epson R-260, PSCS2, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, PS Elements 4
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    wow what is this very beautiful
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    Fantatsic captures PF. clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    Wow, assassin is a pretty good description if it can kill a bee! Great shots!
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    These are excellent Jim. It looks like an assasin bug to me. There are something like 2000 different species so good luck finding out what kind it is. Where these with natural light, the lighting looks great on these.
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    I just commented on a very cute puppy dog but this is the other extreme!
    Great shots!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    Nice work, PF. That is thoroughly creepy!
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    Awsome photos! clap.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Brooks PBrooks P Registered Users Posts: 190 Major grins
    edited September 15, 2006
    I too would say that it is a type of assassin bug. Some assassin bugs do bite humans, and their bites are usually very painful, and can be dangerous to boot, usually due to secondary infections. Arizona has a particularly nasty assassin bug, medical treatment is usually called fro when bitten. They bite, they don't sting, but as the photo shows that is not a tiny little hypodermic like what is found on a mosquito.
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited September 16, 2006
    You guys are great!!

    It does appear to be an assassin bug, or also known as a wheel bug, as can be seen from this website -

    http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/assassin.html

    and here....

    http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/bugs/assassin/assassin.htm#nymph

    I had never heard of an assassin bug. Their bite can be very painful apparently.

    Here are a couple more images. All of these were shot with a Tamron 180macro mopunted on a 20mm Kenko extension tube on a 1DsMkll, and an MT-24EX for lighting, set at 4:1 lighting ratio. The flash was in ETTL and the camera was fired in Manual Mode, around f8-f14 depending on ambient light strength, at 1/125 to 1/250th ISO 200-400.

    95434511-L.jpg

    This shows the typical saw bladed appearance of the thorax of the wheel bug. The red probocis looks like a serious peice of equipment, doesn't it. The wheel bug can kill a large caterpillar within 10 seconds of the injection of digestive juices via the red probocis.

    95434356-L.jpg
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Sign In or Register to comment.