Twig Wilters belong to the Coreidae family and look very much like Assassin bugs and stink bugs. They feed on young shoots, seeds and fruits.
They have stink glands which are visible between the middle and hind legs which squirt out a fluid which smells just like stinkbugs.
I have always thought this a measure of defense but during the taking of these pictures, the bigger of the two sprayed this scent on the leaf it was on and almost immediately, there were 8-9 very small flies circling.
This has lead me to wonder if the smell is also maybe a means of attracting prey?
Twig Wilters can be recognised by the quadrangular shape of its head and the huge hind legs of the male.
They have stink glands which are visible between the middle and hind legs which squirt out a fluid which smells just like stinkbugs.
I have always thought this a measure of defense but during the taking of these pictures, the bigger of the two sprayed this scent on the leaf it was on and almost immediately, there were 8-9 very small flies circling.
This has lead me to wonder if the smell is also maybe a means of attracting prey?
Twig Wilters can be recognised by the quadrangular shape of its head and the huge hind legs of the male.
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