Editorial photo #13964482 Human Interest

Assassin Bug Nymph Camouflages - Animal India

An assassin bug nymph (Reduviidae family) runs on a flower in a house with its debris-covered ''backpack'' in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 12, 2026. The nymph camouflages itself using debris and ant carcasses, held together by sticky excretions, to blend into its environment. When a predator approaches, it sheds the backpack to confuse the predator and escape. As ambush predators, these nymphs use a sharp proboscis to liquefy and consume prey. Unlike brightly colored adults, nymphs rely on their disguise for hunting. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)