
Platymeris biguttatus
Mixed nymphs : $12/each
Starter colony (8 mixed): $80
Detailed Species Stats -Click-
White-spot assassin bugs have always been a quirky and welcome addition to captive insect culture. This species is consistently easy to keep and recommended (with caution due to the venom, of course) as a good beginner assassin bug species. Nymphs have been recorded feeding communally on food items; it’s unknown if this kill sharing is a communal activity or intraspecific kleptoparasitism. It was long-believed that this species could reproduce parthenogenetically; in recent years this has been disproven. It is more likely that adult females may vastly outlive females and may retain sperm for long periods of time, thus giving the illusion that a now all-female colony has begun reproducing asexually. Like other Platymeris and Psytalla horrida, defense mechanisms when greatly frightened include spraying droplets of venom, a foul defensive odor, and production of a startling, scratchy noise by rattling the wings together. The striking wing spots are no doubt a sign to predators that the white spot assassin bug is no easy meal!