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Assassin bug

Vesbius purpureus

Photo by JoeHartman
Published on Project Noah
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17.2288, 103.284

Field Notes

Description:

A as I call it Ferrari bug, due to the red, but actually it's an assassin bug. Awesome colour and very specific legs with knobs on it...

Habitat:

Garden

Notes:

Thanks to bayucca who did not give up and found the ID...great work!

Species ID Suggestions

Assassin Bug

Vesbius purpureus

Reference Link
bayucca
2

Comments (12)
bayucca
Welcome, Chun, always a pleasure to help!
ChunXingWong
Thank you Bayucca (Dominik) for solving the problem to it's ID. We can always count on you. ;-)
bayucca
Welcome! Bayucca is a word in a very old and forgotten lepidopterian language meaning "old man never gives up". OK, almost never ;-)) @Chun: now, you have your ID...
JoeHartman
Bayucca, I bow my head , you're a great researcher, excellent work, thanks a lot!
ChunXingWong
I agree with Bayucca because it has the characteristics of an assassin bug. We have these here too but so far no ID was found.
bayucca
Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Vesbius purpureus. http://image2.xitek.net/forum/pics/201305/1846/184640/184640_1368540565.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/h35312/5059433954/ More official is not possible: http://stampwants-stamps.bidstart.com/Philippines-Mi-1849-Mint-Insects-Vesbius-purpureus-/1490175/a.html
bayucca
Take alook at this one frm India. Note the black head and shape and the "knotty" legs: http://www.rocksea.org/assassin-bugs/ Same body and head shape, wrong color: http://travel.mongabay.com/indonesia/images/kalbar_2062.html I am still pretty sure it is a Reduviidae...
Leuba Ridgway
Interesting little lumps on legs ! a good-looking bug, indeed.
JoeHartman
Dilemmas :) More than 6 months ago I took the pic, each time I search something and see something black/red I am on total alert, but not a single match I have found. I think it's not an assassin bug, are they not supposed to ambush their prey? Would be difficult with that Ferrari red... :) I hope someone comes up with the solution. Thanks anyway for your input.
bayucca
No, probably not a nymph. I have checked Pyrrhocoridae and did not found any picture of one with this special head shape and legs. Unfortunately I did not find any reasonable match for Reduviidae neither. Same result for Alydidae (usually other and thicker legs). I am still sceptic about Pyrrhocoridae and not more happy with Reduviidae...
bayucca
Looks for me at first sight rather as a Reduviidae, Assassin Bug, maybe nymph. What do you think?
Photographed
PublishedOctober 13, 2013

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