Thread-legged bugs
Yesterday, Jeanne brought me a walkingstick bug to take photos of it. I was missing a closeup in my photo collection. First thing I noticed when I got home and looked in the container was that the bug had bent itself midway in the body at a 45 degree angle. I wondered, could a walkingstick do that?
The answer is…..it was not a walkingstick!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20862BEmesaya2Bbrevipennis2BAssassin2BBugs2BReduviidae2Bsubfamily2BThread-legged2BBugs2Bjeanne-s2Bhouse2Bon2Bwindow2Bscreens.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Jeanne said these were all over her porch screens. So what are they? Thread-legged Bugs (Emesaya brevipennis)! This explains why they are on her screens. They are hunting. These belong to the Assassin Bug (Reduviidae) family. Walkingsticks are herbivores.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00132Bcloseup2Bof2Bhead2Band2Bbeak2BEmesaya2Bbrevipennis2BAssassin2BBugs2BReduviidae2Bsubfamily2BThread-legged2BBugs2Bjeanne-s2Bhouse2Bon2Bwindow2Bscreens.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Closeup of its head. The part pointing down is the beak. If you have ever looked at a Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) before you may have noticed the beak as well.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00042Bcloseup2BEmesaya2Bbrevipennis2BAssassin2BBugs2BReduviidae2Bsubfamily2BThread-legged2BBugs2Bjeanne-s2Bhouse2Bon2Bwindow2Bscreens.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Closeup of wings
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20822BEmesaya2Bbrevipennis2BAssassin2BBugs2BReduviidae2Bsubfamily2BThread-legged2BBugs2Bjeanne-s2Bhouse2Bon2Bwindow2Bscreens.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Update: I forgot to put this photo in yesterday (9-27-2020). It shows the usual shape that can fools you into thinking it is a walkingstick.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_44582Bwheel2Bbug2Barilus2Bcristatus2Bhome.jpg?fit=852%2C320&ssl=1)
Can you see the beak on this Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)?
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00272Bmidges2Bchironomidae.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Also in the container Jeanne brought me was this midge (Chironomidae)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00242Bmidges2Bchironomidae.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
In this photo, you can see the haltere.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00222Bmidges2Bchironomidae.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Another view
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00202Bmidges2Bchironomidae.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Closeup of the midge. Love its antennas! Looks a bit like a bird’s downy feathers.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00162Bconehead2Bkatydid2Bneoconocephalus2Bspecies2B2Bfemale2Bcloseup.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Closeup of a Conehead Katydid (Neoconocephalus)
Love my microscope!
Very cool, Mary! I didn't know anything about three-legged bugs. The haltere you pointed out on the midge is also new to me and very interesting.
Thanks! The halteres are a characteristic of the Diptera order except for a few that are wingless. Claire told me about this a long time ago. Always new stuff, eh.