Page 25 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

Amazing arthropods

Tiger beetles can run fast but

it makes them go blind

When a tiger beetle is in pursuit of its tiger beetles to become temporarily
prey, it can really pick up some speed. blind, with their eyes becoming less
The fastest species can dash at nine receptive to photons. So once a spider
kilometres (5.6 miles) per hour, allowing or smaller insect has been spotted, the
it to cover a huge 2.5 metres (eight feet) tiger beetle runs, its vision blurs and it
every second. Unsurprisingly, this makes has to rely on its antennae to detect if
it the fastest insect in the world. it has bumped into something. During
It is not without consequence, though: the chase, it will stop a few times to
the Usain Bolt-like sprinting causes the reorientate itself.
“Usain Bolt-like sprinting causes its eyes

to become less receptive to photons”

This assassin bug stacks its
ASSASSIN BUG
Acanthaspis petax
Class Insecta victims’ carcasses on its back

Assassin bugs have a gruesome way of up on its back using a sticky secretion.
killing their prey. After piercing victims With up to 20 ants bound together, this
Territory Malaysia, east Africa with their curved proboscis, they paralyse provides the perfect camouflage for the
Diet Ants and other insects them with an injection of saliva before bug while also acting as additional armour.
Lifespan One year
Adult weight Unknown using a special enzyme to dissolve their Scientists have observed this to be a
Conservation status guts – an action that allows them to be highly effective technique. The assassin
sucked dry for a nourishing feed. bug’s natural predator, the jumping spider,
One species of assassin bug goes even is often unable to identify the bugs behind
NOT EVALUATED further. Acanthaspis petax takes the dead their morbid armour, while naked bugs are
bodies of the ants it kills and piles them devoured ten times more often.

25