Millipede Assassin (Ectrichodia crux)

Family Reduviidae

As their name implies, these bugs have an exclusive diet of millipedes.

 They are large and lighter in colour when young as can be seen in the picture below with the wings not fully developed.

 They rest under stones during the day and come out at night to feed.


They are common in gardens and all veld types.

Info: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa

Millipede Assassin Bug (Ectrichodia crux) Reduviidae

 

 They are medium sized and found throughout South Africa with metalic bluish black or dark brown with red, orange or cream markings.

 The females are wingless and look similar to the nymphs.

 They come out at night to feed, eating ants and possibly millipedes.

Assassin bug and beetle

These Assassin bugs are scared of nothing and will go after prey many times their size such as this Fruit Chafer.