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treebeard

Santa Barbara, California, United States
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Ambush Bug (Phymatidae, Hemiptera) in the open
Nikon D300
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Ambush Bug (Phymatidae, Hemiptera) in the open

7/18/09
"Slouching Towards Bethlehem..."

This is a photo of my favorite summer predator - the well-named Ambush Bug in the Phymatidae family of the order Hemiptera, probably a Pacific Ambush Bug (Phymata pacifica). It just landed on a flower cluster of Coyote Mint aka White-leaf Monardella (Monardella hypoleuca) in the Mint (Lamiaceae) plant family. It hasn't had time to hide in ambush position yet, so I got to capture its full armored body. (Santa Ynez Mountains, 18 July 2009)

These ambush bugs seem to be color shifters, but they have a limited palette of color - white to green to yellow, but no blue.

I went back to my favorite clump of Coyote Mint today. This is on the high divide between Painted Cave and Arroyo Burro. The Coyote Mint in our canyon is still not flowering yet.

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I'm tired of the spam and junk email that I just have to delete, so I've closed my guestbook for awhile until it goes away. Only my Friends/Favorites can post. *Sigh* - this goes against the whole idea of fotolog.

If you want to comment on my photos and you're not on the list, just send email and I'll visit your flog!

Guestbook Comments (8)

angie_oh_angie said on 7/19/09 3:31 AM

Your pics are relly beautiful.....i love your flog.

Nice day!

kmdevos said on 7/19/09 7:21 AM

That's a strange bug. He has a funny face.
Have a nice day,
Karin.

tomibraum said on 7/19/09 8:08 AM

nice pics

nano_el_enano said on 7/19/09 9:41 AM

Spectacular capture, as always! I love the shape of the exoskeleton on this one. How big are they?
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As for my pic, thank for the comments! I'm absolutely certain it's a walking stick. We had the chance to see that walking stick and a walking stick lookalike Reduviid (the ones with the spines on the front femur and tibia) side by side on the TA trip. Here's the original pic of my tight crop: http://www.graphicshost.net/images/o8soi0nanaj9s01.jpg

And yes, it's sad that almost all of my comments were spam. You and pitquim are the exceptions, though, and your comments are always well received ;)

nikaj_online said on 7/19/09 10:50 AM

woow what a details...great...
and your previous photo is amazing...well done

pitquim said on 7/19/09 12:03 PM

this is an amazing bug! I've never seen something similar

hikingangel said on 7/19/09 12:36 PM

ekk amazing photo have a happy day

jemoyer said on 7/19/09 9:45 PM

... awesome bug! ...

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