At the Zoo
Insect Zoo
Fascinating facts
- These large assassin bugs are voracious predators that sneak up on their prey and use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to inject a variety of digestive enzymes. The bugs can work as a team to overpower prey that is often much larger than an individual assassin bug.
Physical characteristics
They have piercing mouthparts that are shaped into a beak and deliver a paralyzing bite to invertebrate prey (caterpillars are especially favored). The two large white spots on their wing cases give them their common name.
Habitat
White-eyed Assassin Bugs are found in the drier regions of southern Africa.
Diet
They prey on soft-bodied insects and occasionally vertebrate blood.
Social behavior
White-eyed Assasssin Bugs hide in groups under peeling bark, logs, and rocks. They emerge at night to feed.
Status in the wild
They are not endangered.
African lion
VulnerableOne of the most iconic animals on Earth, the African lion is a symbol of strength, social intelligence, and wild Africa.
Blue duiker
Least ConcernAs the world's smallest antelope species, and smallest duiker, they play an important role in their forest ecosystem.
Aldabra tortoise
VulnerableAs one of the largest and longest-lived land tortoises in the world, some are known to have lived up to 170 years!
Toco toucan
Least ConcernKnown for their large, colorful bills and playful behavior, this is the largest of the toucan species.
