Assassin bug (Platymeris biguttatus)

These are predatory beetles. They are true bugs. They will sit on floor of the rainforest and wait for something to croll by, then they grab it with their front legs and insert mosquito-like mouth into their pray. Assassin beetles have a little bet of venom which they use to paralyze and kill their pray. They will drink the pray inside out dry, leaving only the exoskeleton. As adults, although they have wings they seem to only use them to control a fall.

If males are not present in the culture, they will reproduce by parthenogenesis. Recommended terrarium size is 30 x 20 x 20 cm. Provide lots of hiding spots. Like rocks, leafs, cork bark, etc. The more hiding places there will be, the less are the chances of them cannibalizing on each other. Usually Assassin beetles will only cannibalize if there is not enaph food or water. They should be kept at 24- 30°C and 60-80% humidity. The substrate should be 5cm deep, consisting of a mixture of soil and sand. Eggs take 1- 2 moths to hatch. They should never be handles with bare hands.

They mate for only a few seconds at a time, and most of the time in hidden places. Thus it is almost impossible to witness them mating.

Females: get up to 4cm long.

Males: get up to 4cm long. Only the male has a kogelronde bulge to its last abdomen shield.

Feed them a good variety of foods like: Crickets, Cockroaches, Flour Maggots, WaxWorms, etc.

Eggs.

L1 nymph eating a caterpillar.

L1 nymph just finishing eating a caterpillar.

Medium size nymphs, just finishing moulting.

Medium size nymph, a few hours after moulting.

Adult white spoted assassin bug.