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Comments & ID Thoughts
And I STILL don't know what the heck this eater of spiders is called! He is so alien like....and not a spider...
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Jul 30, 2020
- Photographed: Jul 28, 2020
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Sandston, Virginia, United States
- Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes:
I’d say some obscure type of mantis. Beyond that, I wouldn’t know. You could try BugGuide.net on it.
I used “computer vision” on the photos and “mantis” was the closest answer I could get. It’s a cool creepy little thing.
It reminds me of the cryptic flower mantises:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/amazing-colorful-pseudocreobotra-wahlbergii-female-spiny-1307627854
Now that is a very strange but beautiful little creature!!! Thanks for your help!
Thanks for the help. I have now found on line something called a giraffe neck assassin bug that could be a contender. They are said to be from Australia however I have found sightings of them in a few of the States. I have good video of them too and they do appear to act like these giraffe necks are described and at the right angle it does look like it has the assassin bug needle used for sucking their prey. They are fascinating to watch with no regard for the spider as they approach literally unnoticed.
Ah, you are right! BugGuide.net has a page for Genus Stenolemus, a cryptic type of assassin bug. It says they specialize on spiders:
“prey: spiders, including web-building spiders
hunt by either stalking or plucking the web of a spider in imitation of trapped prey”
https://bugguide.net/node/view/39203
That is him for sure!!! Finally. That was making me more than a little crazy!!
Great! I’m always fascinated by the mysteries you post, even though I don’t usually have the answers. 🙂
But you don’t give up easily and always come through with something helpful. And for that, I thank you!!
Aww, thanks. You’re sweet. 🙂