Thread-legged Bug - Emesaya brevipennis

My son spotted this insect on a picnic table, and I thought it was a walking stick until it flew away to a nearby tree. Since Diapheromera femorata (common walkingstick) doesn't have wings. So, then I thought it was a water measurer, but was corrected on Bugguide - it is in fact a thread-legged bug (Emesaya brevipennis). It was about 4-5 cm long.

Habitat: Next to a rural garden that borders a pond

comments (4)

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

I saw this exact insect last month (a nymphal stage I think), but I couldn't get a clear shot of it! So cool! Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Nice!! This isn't a water measurer after all though - it's an assassin bug, Emesaya brevipennis!! Posted 6 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

The spotting talent is passed on, nice find! Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, I was really impressed that he spotted it! Turns out that my ID was wrong though - this is a thread-legged bug, Emesaya brevipennis. Posted 6 years ago

The Emesaya brevipennis

''Emesaya brevipennis'' is a New World species of assassin bug in the subfamily Emesinae. There are three subspecies, all of which occur in North America north of Mexico.

The subspecies ''Emesaya b. brevipennis'' is the most widely distributed and is reported to be bivoltine in Southern Illinois. This subspecies has 5 instars.

''E. brevipennis'' has been reported to rob spiders of their prey and to prey upon spiders. The species also will prey upon conspecifics, both in the.. more

Info 2 0

Similar species: True Bugs

Species identified by Christine Young