#orange assassin bug

[celestialmacros]

Still one of my favorites. A bug that made me realize what a crazy tiny world was out there that I knew so little about.

Orange Assassin Bug (Pselliopus barberi)

May 31, 2024

Southeastern Pennsylvania

[luxicorde]

@headspace-hotel @revretch i am pleased to inform both of you that my swamp milkweed has new residents

Counted no less than 6 babies

Also

Mystery man with a fluffy ass and my coneflower blooming

Also

Common milkweed that is doing its best to bear with me even though I'm bad at taking care of plants for now

[gardeneticist]

Went outside today to test out my new macro clip-on camera lens for my phone, and the first thing I see is this lovely little assassin bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis) sitting on the roof of the dog kennel! It sat perfectly still so it made a great model to test the lens on <3

[whatnext10]

Milkweed Assassin Bugs are Great Hunters and Pest Controllers

Milkweed Assassin Bugs are Great Hunters and Pest Controllers features a milkweed assassin bug that was found hunting in a patch of tickseed flowers. It describes the bug’s range, diet, hunting styles, and the author/artist’s feelings about the bug.

Searching Inside I really love the abundance of tickseed flowers that we have all over the place right now. Not only are the flowers themselves really pretty, but the pollinators adore them. So if I want to see and photograph bees, wasps, butterflies, and heaven knows what else, all I have to do is find a patch of these flowers. The other day I stopped at a bunch of them and as well as…

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Salt Marsh Moth

Estigmene acrea

The salt marsh moth is a part of the family Erebidae. This species was first described in 1773 by Dru Drury. It is also known as the acrea moth.

Description Both male and female moths have white heads, thoraxes, and forewings with a varying pattern of black spots on the forewings, with some moths having no pattern at all. They also share an orange-yellow abdomen with a vertical line of back dots. On the male, the hindwings are the same organge yellow while on females the hindwings are white. Both males and females have three or four black dots on each hindwing.

Wingspan Range: 4.5 - 6.8 cm (≈1.77 - 2.68 in)

Diet and Habitat The caterpillar was first thought to be a pest to salt-grass, but in fact it prefers weeds, vegetables, and field crops such as dandelions, cabbage, cotton, walnuts, apple, tobacco, pea, potato, clovers, and maize. Adults do not feed.

This moth is found in North America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Colombia, and Mexico. It prefers open habitats such as openings in woods, thickets, farm fields, grasslands, and marshes. It is called the “salt marsh moth” because it is common in coastal salt marshes (tidal marshes) along Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts.

Mating This species of moth does not emit pheromones from the tip of its abdomen but instead from its throat or the to of its abdomen. These moths are seen from May to August but can be seen all year in southern Florida and Texas. It is presumably during May and August they mate in most parts of their range while they mate all year round in Florida and Texas.

Yellowish eggs are laid in clusters on the host plant leaves. Females usually produce 400 to 1000 eggs in one or more clusters. It is possible to find a single egg cluster containing 1200 eggs. Eggs hatch in four to five days.

Predators This species is frequently parasitized as larvae, usually by flies in the Tachinidae family. In Arizona, the most common parasites were Exorista mellea and Leschenaultia adusta while two other parasitic flies were also seen: Gymnocarcelia ricinorum and Lespesia archippivora.

Both the larval and egg stages are oararzitized by Hymenopteran parasitoids such as Apanteles diacrisiae; Therion fuscipenne, T. morio, Casinaria genuina, Hyposoter rivalis; Psychophagus omnivorus, Tritneptis hemerocampae Vierick; Anastatus reduvii; and Trichogramma semifumatum.

A cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus is known to harm this species but there are little data on its importance and effect.

General predators such as lady beetles, softwinged flower beetles, and assassin bugs prey on these caterpillars, but are not thought to have a large impact on population.

Fun Fact This species has 4 subspecies: Estigmene acrea acrea, Estigmene acrea arizonensis (Rothschild, (1910)) (Arizona), Estigmene acrea mexicana (Walker, (1865)) (Mexico), Estigmene acrea columbiana (Rothschild, (1910)) (Colombia).

(Source: Wikipedia, University of Florida, Missouri Department of Conservation)

[kokichispanta]

Every DSMP duo (Tell me if I missed some and I'll add them)

Bedrock Bros - Technoblade & TommyInnit

Bee Duo - Ranboo & Tubbo

Allium Duo - Ranboo & TommyInnit

TNT Duo - Quackity & Wilbur Soot

Clingy Duo - Tubbo & TommyInnit

Crime Boys - Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit

Disc Duo - TommyInnit & Dream

Devil Duo - TommyInnit & Drista

Endersmile - Ranboo & Dream

Emerald Duo - Technoblade & Philza

Rocket Duo - Nihachu(Niki) & Jack Manifold

Cookie Duo - Ranboo & Slimecicle

Sweater Duo - Jschlatt & Wilbur Soot

Taller Duo - Ranboo & Wilbur Soot

Sand Duo - Philza & Wilbur Soot

Memory Duo - Karl Jacobs & Ranboo

Deity Duo - Dream XD & Foolish

Mutually Assured Destruction(MAD) Duo - Dream & Wilbur Soot

Angel Duo - TommyInnit & Philza

BBQ - BadBoyHalo & Quackity

Lovers Duo - Mamacita(Girl Dream) & Mexican Dream

Pumpkin Duo - Quackity & Jschlatt

Quirky Duo - Wilbur Soot & Tubbo

Firefly Duo - Tubbo & Dream

Hotel Duo - Awesamdude(Sam) & TommyInnit

Nuke Duo - Jack Manifold & Tubbo

Staged Duo - Punz & Dream

Golden Boys Duo - TommyInnit & Purpled

Squeaky Duo - TommyInnit & GeorgeNotFound

Uncles Duo - Jschlatt & Philza

Meow Duo - Wilbur Soot & GeorgeNotFound

Happy Duo - Skeppy & BadBoyHalo

Dap Duo - Quackity & Slimecicle

Vault Duo - Awesamdude(Sam) & Dream

Sunrise Duo - Technoblade & Nihachu(Niki)

Treasure Duo - Sapnap & Ranboo

Boat Duo - Foolish & Ranboo

Pyro Duo - Sapnap & TommyInnit

Prey Duo - Technoblade & Quackity

Eternal Duo - Foolish & Eret

Ping Pong Duo - Punz & Ponk

Calamity Duo - Quackity & TommyInnit

Therapy Duo - TommyInnit & Puffy

Cuck Duo - ConnorEatsPants(Connor) & Jschlatt

Honk Duo - Karl & Quackity

Supreme Duo - GeorgeNotFound & Ponk

Assassin Duo - Quackity & Purpled

Bitter Duo - Jack Manifold & TommyInnit

Peer Pressure Duo - Technoblade & Ranboo

Twin Duo - Technoblade & Wilbur

New York(NY) Duo - TommyInnit & Jschaltt

Orphan Duo - Skeppy & Technoblade

Cabinet Duo - Quackity & Tubbo

Button Duo - Eret & Wilbur Soot

Rivals Duo - Technoblade & Dream

Fireworks Duo - Tubbo & Technoblade

Grime Duo - Slimecicle & TommyInnit

Apple Duo - Slimecicle & Jschlatt

Rain Duo - Wilbur Soot & Nihachu(Niki)

FireFox Duo - Seapeekay(CPK) & Sapnap

Mercenary Duo - Punz & Purpled

Fun Duo - Eryn & TommyInnit

Glow Duo - Ranboo & Aimsey

Piss Duo - Seapeekay(CPK) & Dream

Neighbors Duo - Purpled & TommyInnit

Short Duo - Quackity & GeorgeNotFound

Spring Duo - Aimsey & Tubbo

Jaffa Cake Duo - GeorgeNotFound & Tubbo

Comfy Duo - Tubbo & Sapnap

Loud Duo - Dream & Quackity

Rose Duo - Dream & Hannah

Octopus Duo - Nihachu(Niki) & TommyInnit

Earth Duo - Dream & GeorgeNotFound

Pickle Duo - TommyInnit & Foolish

Icy Duo - Fundy & Ranboo

Horns Duo - Tubbo & Jschlatt

Citrus Duo - Fundy & Dream

Homie Duo - Karl & Sapnap

Coconut Duo - Nihachu(Niki) & Fundy

Chair Duo - Nihachu(Niki) & Ranboo

Ducky Duo - Skeppy & Quackity

Giggle Duo - Aimsey & TommyInnit

Hell Duo - Jack Manifold & Sapnap

Hibernation Duo - GeorgeNotFound & Technoblade

Pet Duo - Technoblade & Sapnap

Land Duo - Foolish & BadBoyHalo

Loan Shark Duo - Foolish & Quackity

Orange Duo - Sapnap & TinaKitten

Sunshine Duo - GeorgeNotFound & TinaKitten

White Eyes Duo - Eret & BadBoyHalo

Heart Duo - TommyInnit & Eret

Sugar Duo - Dream & TinaKitten

Prank Duo - Eret & Fundy

Star Duo - Foolish & TinaKitten

Parents Duo - Kristin & Philza

Scar Duo - Awesamdude(Sam) & Quackity

Bug Duo - Ranboo & Punz

[kabutoden]

Sorry if youve answered this before, but how do you chose the bugs to assign to each character ? Also they are all really cool and fun :3

Hi, I’ve explained this before but I’ll do it again! Last time I explained it was less specific to the character and more to the caste, so this’ll be a little different. I use the metaphors and associations of the insect to pick their species as well as their diet. I’m calling the species a troll mimics their ‘morph’.

Aradia: Fly. Associated with death. Detritivore. Tavros: Craneflies. Frailty, timidness, clumsiness. Thinking longhorn beetle might be a funnier pun though, so I might change it. Herbivore. Sollux: Bees. Construction, intelligence, connections to groupthink/hiveminds/psi. Herbivore. Nepeta: Caterpillar. It’s a pun. Herbivore. Karkat: Isopod. Highly social insect. Durable shell representing defensiveness/personal barriers, but also serving literal aspect of ‘thick skin.’ Detritivore. Kanaya: Hornet. Dangerous but caring parents, association with femininity. Omnivore. Terezi: Dragonfly. Good eyesight’s associated with clarity, though large eyes would also be easier to blind. Good at flying. Dragon pun. Carnivore. Vriska: Spider. Manipulative, association with femininity. Carnivore. Equius: Beetle. Strong. Omnivore. Gamzee: Praying mantis. Associations with religion due to unique praying pose. Carnivore. Eridan: Anolomacaris. Extinct skilled distance hunter. Carnivore. Feferi: Trilobite. Large curved spines, trident tongue, ‘ruler of precambrian seas.’ Detritvore.

All insects before Jade are herbivores or detritivores, and all insects jade and after are middle to highblood can hunt. This was to set up an intentionally antagonistic relationship between lowbloods and highbloods. It’s also a new way to play with themes in my personal work which are all about animal dynamics.

I mostly did the human kids as bugs as a joke, because they’re not aliens at all so its funny!! But I had a ton of fun with them so here we go again. I chose them off colors and gimmicks.

John: Spitbug. They’re bright green and gooey boys. Like ectoplasm. Rose: Rosy maple moth. Name association—also bright pink and yellow against their will. Rose wishes she was a cool goth all-black moth. Moths are associated with ‘seeking light.’ Dave: Assassin beetle/wheel bug. Have a gear shaped bump on back, large black eyes, efficient predators, some red coloration. Fits in with his expectations and pressures. Jade: Wooly aphid. They’re white, fuzzy, with rainbow wings. That’s so her.

Jane: Candy-striped leafhopper. Bright cyan with red highlights, food-themed name.Roxy: Pink-spotted cattleheart. Gorgeous pink and black coloring. Butterflies are nectar-drinkers, associated with celebration and inebriation. Kinda clumsy too. Dirk: Tiger beetle. They can move in bursts of motion faster than they can see. That’s flash stepping. Orange and black. Jake: Diving beetle. Dark green with orange highlights, explorers who go where other beetles cannot.

[faux-ecrivain]

Headcannons about Yan Emperor

(Seventeenth Official Post)

(Name is Adonis Margold)

(Links to help you; 140 Shades of Purple Color With Names, Hex, RGB, CMYK Codes - Color Meanings , 134 Shades of Green Color With Names, Hex, RGB, CMYK Codes - Color Meanings , 140 Shades of Purple Color With Names, Hex, RGB, CMYK Codes - Color Meanings , eighteenth century | British Food: A History )

He hates it when he starts sweating, it makes his body feel all sticky and uncomfortable 

He hates the color Harelquin green and despises the color Fuchsia purple, but loves the colors Chinese violet and tea green

He’s actually the son of a concubine/mistress and was quite close to his father (the late Emperor)

Despite this he has no intention of taking a concubine or mistress

His favorite food is filet mignon 

His favorite dessert is smoking bishop (a British dessert from the 18th or 19th century)

He dreams about a domestic life with you (he’s even considered adopting/having a few kids)

He hated you when he first met you

He hates the Duke so much that he has a target dummy that has the duke’s painting on it and the emperor literally rips that thing apart with his sword/arrows

He’s been through 21 failed assassination attempts on his life, 33 failed assassination attempts on his mom’s life, 14 failed assassination attempts on his dad’s life, five failed assassination attempts on his siblings and 6 successful ones (he had a lot of siblings).

He doesn’t know how to ride a horse and wants you to teach him

He sleeps with a stuffed bear at night

He has a very comfy bed and often invites (commands) you to lay with him

He doesn’t hate the peasants, but he wants nothing to do with them and do he devised a plan to just take care of their needs, so they’ll stop bothering him

He absolutely despises any and all, except you, nobles, like he cannot stand being in a room with them for long than 20 minutes

His favorite flower is the Dawnrising flower, it only blooms at Dawn and he loves the way it looks. 

It comes in two shades, one has a yellow center which fades into orange at the beginning of the petals which then fades into a light red and has splashes of light blue in it, and the tips of the petal are a dark shade of pink

The second version has a dark shade of purple center that fades into a light purple near the edges, then it fades into a pink as the petals bloom and the tips are a shade of blue

Although, Dawnrising flowers are quite rare and he’s only found a handful, all of which he’s kept alive and taken wonderful care of them

He doesn’t actually want to be the Emperor, but he’s the only one left in his blood line and he’s not one to forsake responsibility 

He adores cute fuzzy animals and has a pet cat (it’s a tiger), it’s quite big though and has to be kept outside

Many women have tried to win the Emperor’s heart, but he has turned them away and will continue to do so. 

This has caused speculation about the Emperor’s sexuality, some assume he’s into guys, but the truth is he doesn’t care about the gender as long as they have a respectable personality (also he just really wants to marry you)

He’s a very good dancer and favors the tango

When it comes to cuddles, he prefers to wrap his arms around whomever he’s cuddling and then lay on top of them (no idea why, of course this doesn’t mean he’s against being the little spoon when cuddled)

He gets bored rather easily and gets irritated just as quick

Despite his friendly personality, he’s actually quite cruel and temperamental. If someone bugs him too much or resists him too often, he’ll lash out and severely punish them

If the person he loves doesn’t reciprocate then he’ll wait a little for them to come to their sense, but if it takes too long then he’s not above kidnapping and murder

He has a reputation for being a monster on the battlefield, it’s said that he’s killed entire armies of opposing forces before (of course, his reputation could never live up to yours, you’ve got far more experience in battle then him)

He has a thing for really strong people and if the person he’s perusing has some muscles, well, let’s just say they should expect an onslaught of perversion and flirtatious remarks/touches 

Although, if the one he loves Isn’t particularly strong, he doesn’t mind and will still love him

His favorite color is Liserian Pink

He likes watching the middle class performers do plays, actually he likes to watch plays in general and operas

He’s visited many places on Ilasatra and his favorite place to visit is Rais (the equivalent of china in this world)

He’s enjoys learning about other cultures and heritages, his own is a bit messy and he doesn’t like thinking about it

He hates his grandfather and doesn’t care for his grandmother 

He never really cared for his siblings, except for a little boy named Frederick those two were quite close and up until little Fred died (at the age of twelve) Adonis spent a lot of time with him

He likes to read books on myths, particularly Terres myths (equivalent of Greek myths in this world)

He has a journal that he uses to write down every dream, every thought and everything about you, actually he has many, many journals. :)

(Hope you enjoy this and don’t forget to reblog/comment!)

(Also, please send in some asks/requests about my characters, I’m happy to answer them and it’ll give me the motivation necessary to continue posting!)

[lightwise]

TBB S3E8 - Reactions

- Poor Echo—he really is not getting any screen time is he

- Crosshair’s look of concern when he tells Omega she should be staying away from Rex and Echo 😭

- Okay Omega’s guilt is so clouding her judgement at this point. Poor kid really thinks it’s her fault that all those clones died—no baby girl, the shadow assassin would have gone there anyway whether you were there or not. My heart aches for her

- Hunter 🤝 Crosshair: keep Omega safe at all costs.

- Hunter’s lil “come on” head tilt 🤩

- PHEE!!!! I have been waiting for you!!!

- Crosshair: Who!?! 😶 PRICELESS. EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED FROM HIM MEETING HER 🤣🤣🤣

- Not Omega serving as the narrative admitting that Phee is, in fact, much to our dismay, a pirate 🏴‍☠️

- I’M GETTING BOTH MY GIRLS BACK IN ONE EPISODE

- Just slipping a Tech mention in there, why don’t you stop ripping my heart out

- Fennec!!!

- And Cross has the same reaction to Fennec 😆 —he’s finally starting to learn about the life that his family has lived during their time apart

- Hunter being in full dad mode and also being very perceptive about Crosshair hiding his hand issues. He may not always be able to say this about himself, but Hunter admitting that ignoring something won’t make the problem go away is huge growth from him.

- Thank goodness Hunter can pilot. This would be a very short season otherwise

- Cool space station

- I love when Star Wars is grimy city underbellies and neon lights 🤩

- The guys look SO GOOD in purple. Jus sayin

- As does Fennec (Queen that she is)

- I’d let those boys hem me in a booth anytime

- Ming-Na Wen is really pulling out all the stops for Fennec’s voice

- Hunter in neon bar lighting is something so personal to me

- “Ruined one of my scores” lol Fennec is salty tonight

- “More than you’ve got” she doesn’t even know how much they have on them but she knows it’s not enough 🤣 but also where is that 30k credits that Omega won?? They could have used that?

- “We made a deal. I’m going to keep it as long as you hold up your end”

- “Ten? For THAT? That’s what I thought”

- Gosh that water looks nasty

- Wet helmet Hunter instead of WET HAIR HUNTER??? Fffffffsssss Jennifer *clicks tongue in disappointment*

- That is so many mines

- “Close doesn’t count” 🥺

- It’s really interesting to me that this show has been focused solely on the Batch as a family this season. We’ve been on Pabu multiple times and have seen hardly any other residents, no one trying to be neighborly or prying (even though we know Shep has tried to make sure Crosshair is comfortable). The focus is on the Batch themselves this time, not their dynamic with the outside world.

- “You don’t like anything” “true” at least he’s self aware by now lol

- Batcher’s like “you like meeee!”

- Hunter’s senses are back baybee

- Never knew I needed to see Wrecker yeeting space alligators until today. Glorious. Straight up punching them in the face 🤣🤣🤣

- Ohhhh Wrecker giving back her sass blow for blow!

- “So what happened with the kid?”

- I will die on the hill that Fennec cares about Omega deep down

- “Just…seems odd. Considering our past”

- Love that the atmosphere on this planet is orange and it’s Fennec’s episode

- “They thought Omega would be safer with you guys. Guess they were wrong about that” she is not pulling any punches

- “Money’s not everything” you right boy

- “That’s because you don’t have any” phewww 🤣🤣🤣

- Pulling the blaster across the throat in a kill motion?? Hunter what are you doing to me right now 🥵

- “Pretty much” lolol

- This dude is so creepy looking. Giant bug eyes were not what I was expecting

- “You heard me!!” Oh Wrecker is done, done

- Man this guy does not go down easy.

- Bug spit. Nuff said

- “I doubt that” oh Cross, honey, I know, I get it

- THEY HELD HANDS

- I REPEAT SHE HELD HIS HAND

- Sorry I’m having Kenobi show Obi-Wan and Leia handhold flashbacks 😭😭😭😭

- Okay okay I’m back. I think.

- “You’ve missed a lot” “I know”

- Okay just rip my heart out why don’t you

- That is one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen

- Pointy finger scrunched brow Hunter is the best Hunter

- “You can either fight me or trust me. Good choice” 😮‍💨

- Hunter getting tipped off that ramp is uh…is ummm…doing something to me. What, I’m not sure 👀🫠

- I also find it really interesting that they’ve barely had us on the Marauder at all this season. Foreshadowing?

- Both Fennec and Phee make the same two fingered salute to the boys after talking to them. Cute.

- Ohhhhh is she…is she selling them out?? Who is she talking to? Cad?

- Wait no she wouldn’t pass them over to someone else if any money could be gained on her side. I bet she’s talking to Ventress. I really wanna know how those two know each other 👀

- Wow. Things are really going to get interesting from here. Can’t wait.

[jupiterswasphouse]

[PHOTOS TAKEN: JULY 17TH, 2023 | Image IDs: Two photos of an orange, black, and white pselliopus assassin bug nymph on the tip of a human finger, with blurred bushes in the background /End IDs.]

Wasn't even trying to handle this guy! It just happened to crawl on while I was tending to plants-

[celestialmacros]

One of my favorite bugs says "hi!"

Orange Assassin Bug (Pselliopus barberi)

July 19, 2023

Southeastern Pennsylvania

[revretch]

I saw. SO MANY BUG today. (Sorry in advance for bad phone camera quality and shaky hands)

Male March fly!!! (Thanks to @microecobus for the ID!)

Baby sawfly!

Tiny assassin bug!

Flat bug (actually what they're called) and a zebra jumping spider!

Better look at the jumping spider!

Male California glowworm (species of firefly where only the babies and wingless females glow)!

Aphids!

Spittlebug (hiding in the foam on the leaf)!

And last but not least, a huge male snakefly (females have long ovipositors)!!!! So cool to find this one, I've only seen one in person once before in my life!

That's not counting the crane flies, honeybees, ants, little round orange mite, various flies, brown marmorated stink bug (of course), tiger butterfly, boxelder bugs, and tons of little parasitoid wasps I saw pollinating. An excellent bug day for Rev!

[goldenempyrean]

could you use “I thought you said that you were feeling better?” and “Can I lie on you?” with wandanat x reader, where nat is sick and absolutely miserable?

Here We'll Stay

〚 Notes - Hey hey, look who's alive?! Hint, its me. Finaaaally kicking the rest of that gross ass bug outa my system so I'm back to feeling pretty good again. This req was adorable, enjoy :)〛

〚 Summary - Nat's sick, so you and Wanda do your best to take the very best care of her. Cuddles and more ensue. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 835 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

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Nat had been sick for a couple of days now, and it was really knocking her out. She had been scheduled to take off on her mission, it was only as both you and Wanda went to wave her off that you’d both realised that she was sick, her crimson red nose gave her away instantly, but unsurprisingly the redhead had still been planning to go ahead with her job despite feeling utterly miserable. Which meant it had taken several hours of coaxing, bribing and nagging to finally get the sick woman call off her mission and go back to bed to rest. It was a good thing you did too because only a few hours later the poor assassin could barely sit up to blow her own nose, the thought of her almost going out on her own in this condition was one that made you shudder. 

Her nose was a swollen mass from the incessant sniffling, and the skin beneath it was an angry, raw red from all the irritation. She looked thoroughly exhausted, and her voice had been reduced to a low, hoarse croak while her eyes held a feverish haze to them as they drifted between Wanda and yourself. 

You sat close by her, occasionally brushing your palm across her forehead. Each time hoping that she’d be somewhat cooler despite, hoping for the burning fever raging through her body to release her from its sweaty grasp.  

“Baby, her fever won't have gone down yet. It’s only been a few hours,” Wanda murmured softly after you raised your hand to check again. She knew you were worried, you both were, “I’ll go and see if we have any medicine.” 

Wanda quickly disappeared into the bathroom, remerging a few minutes later with an orange bottle along with one of the small handtowels that you kept it the bathroom which had clearly been run beneath the cold tap, “I thought this would help a bit too.” She explained and you gave an agreeing nod as she came to sit beside Nat on the bed, “Hey sweetie, this might be a little cold okay? But it’s going to help a lot, I promise. But can you take these for me baby?” She shook the pill bottle, letting two pills fall into her hand. 

Nat did as told, swallowing the pills without so much as a complaint. She felt herself shiver impulsively as Wanda lays the cool cloth over her forehead, but the coolness is a much-welcomed sensation. 

It's an hour or so later and you find yourself watching Wanda as she expertly nurses the feverish assassin. She has a talent for it, and she always did her best to care for both of you whenever you got sick. While you tried your very best to help, it was more than obvious that Wanda was the most skilled out of the pair of you. 

“Is there anything else you need baby, how are you feeling?” You found yourself asking as you ran your hand through Natasha’s damp hair 

Nat pretended to think for a moment. In truth she knew exactly what she wanted – no, craved. “I feel a little better, but could we maybe all cuddle for abit?” She sniffled before quickly adding, “I’m cold.” 

You gently stroked her hair as you glanced over at Wanda. It's a silent inquiry between the two-of-us and she responds with a knowing nod. "Of course, you can." You smiled as Nat shuffled up to lay in the centre of the big bed, letting you and Wanda slip in at both sides. 

“Can I lie on you?” The small whisper came from the redhead nuzzling beside you, her glassy-green eyes looking up at you pitifully. How could you say no to such a cute face like that. Especially when only moments later she was wracked by harsh thick coughing which only soothed after both you and Wanda rubbed her back.

“Aw baby, I thought you said you were feeling better,” You pouted, pulling Nat up onto your stomach, letting her lie all over of you, her warm skin pressed against her own. The poor thing barely had the energy to pull away from you, instead she ended up stifling a set of sneezes against the fabric of your shirt. 

“Hh…Hh-h'ktshi! Hehh..hhHxxnt!” 

“Should I go grab some more tissues?” Wanda asked, as she swiped the last tissue from the box beside her, tending to Nat’s sniffles with it. 

“Don't go-” The redhead interjected before curling into you as she coughed harshly, the sound rattling in her chest, “I want you both here.” 

"We’re both here, and here we'll stay," You tell her with a comforting smile as you wrap my arm around her. My cheek came to settle on her head, and you hummed contently feeling Wanda cuddle up against the both of you. Its moments like this that you savour. It keeps you together, "Whatever you need, alright? For however long you need it, We’ll both right here for you.” 

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[crevicedwelling]

i apologize if this isnt a good question, but how do you tell the diff. between assassin bugs and leaf footed bugs? i have a photo of a bug, and seek/inat said just.. general leaf footed bugs, but i know it could be wrong.

if it helps any, the tips of its antennae are orange, like a very bright orange

there’s a bunch of ways to tell but a quick at-a-glance method is to look at the antennae: leaf footed bugs (Coreidae) have blunt-ended, thick antennae while most assassin bugs (Reduviidae) have tapering antennae that end in a fine, hairlike point.

another good way to tell is to check the rear pair of legs for a flange that gives coreids their common name; not all coreids have leafy feet but I can’t think of any commonly observed reduviids that do.

Leptoglossus oppositus (Coreidae)

Arilus cristatus (Reduviidae)

Pselliopus cinctus (Reduviidae)

Acanthocephala terminalis (Coreidae)

[iamthekaijuking]

what are your thoughts on Taikun Zamuza, about its design biology and ecology?

Taikun Zamuza is one of the few frontier monsters that genuinely fascinates me. It’s an electric crab, a subterranean creature, and the shell mechanic is interesting.

Ecology wise I think Taikun just kinda eats what it can get plus the occasional ore, but considering all the mold and barnacles growing on it, it probably spends long periods of time sitting around. It might rely primarily on ambush predation while also sometimes eating some of what grows on its back to round out its diet, and then occasionally making trips to areas with flora or detritus rich in nutrients it can’t get elsewhere. Taikun has a lot of defenses though, so it’s very likely that it’s far from the top dog in its environment, and might have many predators.

At first I thought that the orange eyeless outer shell might be the carapace of another monster it wears for protection, like how some assassin bugs wear their prey, but then it occurred to me that it actually kinda looks like the Megalopae life stage in crabs.

If this is the case then that means it wears the shell of its previous life stage for protection, and gets smaller as it gets older. This shrinking with age thing does sometimes happen in nature, like with the paradox frog. This Megalopae exoskeleton also seems to still be in one piece, meaning that when Taikun molts it doesn’t actually leave its old skin.

This got me wondering how they reproduce though. Surely they leave their shell to do it, so do they just break out of it and spend the rest of their life without this second shell? Or maybe they slip out of it like clothes and then put it back on even though it would be a little loose now that it’s fully opened? If it really is a Megalopae exoskeleton, then is the creature that’s inside actually just a juvenile? Have we never seen an adult Taikun Zamuza?

[bombcollar]

charming little clown, the orange assassin bug. glad someone is learning to predate the spotted lanternflies.