Green Anole meets Wheel Bugs
At 4:11 this afternoon, I photographed a pair of Wheel bugs mating. They were making their way slowly across the fence-top. Thirty minutes later, I glanced over and saw that they had made it across 5 more planks. Slow going.
Then, I realized that a Green anole was perched atop the next plank. Was he sizing up his next meal? I held my breath, as I watched the Wheel bugs slowly progressing towards the anole. The anole was eyeing the bugs, but I couldn't tell whether he was going to retreat or attack. The photo I took shows the moment of vulnerability when the Wheel bug stepped off her plank towards the Anole's plank - one foot in midair.
And then, the anole shifted slightly to the side, allowing them to share his plank and pass on by. He stood completely still until they had moved beyond him. Then, he puffed his throat for me and patiently let me get a few pictures.
So, do Green anoles eat Wheel bugs? And, why do Wheel bugs walk while mating? Was the anole throat puffing towards me or about the encounter he had just had?
(Two observations linked below.)
Fynd
Bilder / Ljud
Observatör
launiBeskrivning
My favorite picture of the day. I’ll have to write a journal post about this one.
Kommentarer
Great post, @launi! I've never seen an anole eat a wheel bug... Wheel bugs also have these funky rectal glands that pop out when disturbed:
https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5364246
Weird, huh?!?
So, I'm not even sure if an anole would try to eat a wheel bug -- they do look pretty scary with all those jagged edges...
As for why they're walking around while mating... I think this happens actually a bit with bugs -- the typically larger female carries the male, and the male holds on to prevent any other males from sneaking in, I think.
Woah! Those rectal glands are crazy, @sambiology. Yes, I was concerned for the anole if he tried to eat them. Too many spikes. The suspense of the encounter was fun though!
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