Photo: Casperonian
Photo: SideView
Photo: Barca Branca
Photo: Wesley Sng
Photo: Landersz
Photo: Tomasz Gorny
Photo: InSectHunter
Photo: Casperonian
The insect world never ceases to amaze. These colorful bugs boast familiar patterns like faces or tribal masks on their shields. While potential predators waste precious time wondering whether it's food, enemy or prey, the masked creatures plot their protection tactics or escape.
We take a look at seven of these insects that prove: bug is beautiful!
1. Black stink bug with white eyes and mouth
These mini warriors have pretty smart warfare defences. Shield bugs, or stink bugs, have glands in their thorax (the part between the head and the abdomen) between their first and second pair of legs that produce a foul-smelling liquid, which is used for defense and released when the bug feels threatened.
2. Stink bug with brown and white mask
In this next photograph, the stink bug looks huge, but it is only about 1 cm long in real life, making the markings on the mask all the more intricate.
3. Cotton stainer with black sunglasses
This too-sexy-to-be-eaten bug with his/her sunglasses is actually a crop pest. Known as cotton stainers, these bugs feed on cotton and get crushed with it during harvesting. Their red bodies leave stains, which are hard to remove.
4. Red firebugs
These firebugs seem to huddle together to discuss their strategy. They are common in Europe and are also part of the cotton stainer family. Their scientific name is pyrrhocoris apterus.
5. Stink bug with leathery mask
This stink bug is also found in Europe. Doesn't its shield look like it is made of leather?
6. Stink bug with bluish gorilla mask
This stink bug from Singapore looks like it’s carrying a gorilla-mask on its back. Amazing, isn’t it?
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7. Yellow man-faced bug
This is a picture example of how the shield pattern resembles a face. Like a huge sign saying “don’t even think about it” to predators - including humans - this stink bug looks slightly grumpy, and for good reason. Just recently, scientists have discovered the nutritional value of edible stink bugs. They're a good source of protein, fat, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Stink bug stew, anyone?
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9 comments
Impulse (not verified) says:
Oct 31st, 2008 at 6pm
about the 6th bug- "Tomasz Gorny" is not the name of it, but of the photographer that took this shot... the bug is called Picromerus bidens. Next time read text at the source of Your photos more carefully... I literally LOL'd when I saw a bug called like human xD fix this one pretty please xD
Ryoo (not verified) says:
Nov 2nd, 2008 at 3am
Wow, amazing, I never knew such things existed! Thank you...
Simone (not verified) says:
Nov 3rd, 2008 at 11am
Apologies for the errors in an earlier version of the article! It's all fixed now. Guess one has to expect bugs when writing about them...
luanndawkins says:
Nov 20th, 2008 at 4am
Great pics and article. First I have to worry about the bugs on the other article here, that steal your jewels, now I have to worry about another bug that might look like my husband????? Somebody call Terminex!
John (not verified) says:
Dec 31st, 2008 at 5pm
Does anyone know where to buy these bugs by quanity? Perfer to have them dried.
Demetrius (not verified) says:
Mar 2nd, 2009 at 8pm
that is the most dumb pics i'ev ever seen in my whole intier life
Connex Environmental (not verified) says:
Sep 24th, 2009 at 5pm
Awesome pics ive never seen faces on bugs before.
NY Pest Pro
Angela (not verified) says:
Thank you for publishing these pictures of beautiful bugs. Although I am not crazy about having them on me, I recognize their place in our world. I appreciate it when people like you show them to the public in all their glory.