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Jagged Ambush Bug
42.5672, -76.2519
Field Notes
Description:
Very gorgeous insect! Its coloration is golden yellow, brown, and black, which gives it perfect camouflage in the goldenrod inflorescence that it hides in. From the top down it is hourglass shaped. From a side view you can that it has two jagged edges that poke up from the top. It has a really interesting looking orange-brown eye. My guess is that it has exceptional vision. Also worth noting are its front legs. They are enlarged and have a hook at the very end. They use this hook to catch prey many sizes larger than itself.
Habitat:
Found on flowering plants, mostly goldenrod.
Notes:
Very cool insect. It gets its name by how it hunts for its prey. Using their strong camouflage they sit and wait on top of the flowers of goldenrod for pollinators such as bees or butterflies. When an unsuspecting pollinator does come by it uses its strong fore legs and hooked foot to grab hold of the insect as it bites down and injects digestive fluids. It will then suck out the juices from the exoskeleton leaving behind an empty shell of its prey.
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