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Bug ID. Some kind of mantid?

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DrWurm

DrWurm

Californian in DC
Went out to check on my sarracenia a few minutes ago when I saw a bug on my S. purpurea x rubra. Upon closer inspection, I had no idea what it was, so I rushed inside to grab my camera. Luckily for me, this bug was not easily spooked. It moved verrrry slowly, almost stalking around the developing pitcher. I could see it had some sort of appendage out front, but I couldn't tell if it was some sort of lancing mouthpart or what. Upon closer inspection through my macro lens I began to suspect I was looking at the front legs of a mantid.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drwurm/3740555099/" title="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra by DrWurm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/3740555099_8369fed6e4.jpg" width="500" height="397" alt="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drwurm/3741348196/" title="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra by DrWurm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/3741348196_5cd3cd3f08.jpg" width="500" height="438" alt="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drwurm/3740556377/" title="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra by DrWurm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3740556377_86c36c309e.jpg" width="500" height="473" alt="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drwurm/3741349542/" title="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra by DrWurm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3741349542_2cd1e7bf58.jpg" width="500" height="485" alt="Unidentified Mantid On Sarracenia Purpurea x Rubra" /></a>

Here is what I consider the money shot. Who knows what would have happened had these 2 insects been on the same side of the developing pitcher lid? This photo is definitely in my top 10 favorite shots.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drwurm/3740557611/" title="This Fly May Have Come Very Close To Death.... by DrWurm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3740557611_c2a24a78a5.jpg" width="704" height="800" alt="This Fly May Have Come Very Close To Death...." /></a>

Jason
 
That's no mantis. The appendage looks like fuzzy antennae to me. Also its legs are way too out of proportion with the rest of the body....but that's just how i see it
 
petmantis said:
That's no mantis. The appendage looks like fuzzy antennae to me. Also its legs are way too out of proportion with the rest of the body....but that's just how i see it
Click to expand...

Actually, I believe the long apendages that look like front legs are the antenna, seeing as how they're connected to the front of the head.

Jason
 
Ah, with the assassin bug suggestion I was able to make more headway. I actually had initially thought assassin bug, but the front legs really threw me off. I found the exact species with a little digging: Empicoris rubromaculatus. It's in a subset of assassin bugs called thread-legged bugs.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/9418

It's incredible how the thread-legged bugs seem to mirror the mantis' praying legs. Check this one out! http://bugguide.net/node/view/233032

Jason
 
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