Walkingstick look-alike
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Hello! I’ve been a fan for years and rec’d responses several times to my queries, and I thank you again for this great service you provide! I do not believe this insect is a true ‘Walkingstick’, but a look-alike. The legs were quite long, maybe 4-5″, antenna abt. 4″ and wings abt 1 1/2-2″ in length. I saw a photo similar to this insect somewhere with a diff. name and forgot to make note of it! =-( I was in a small field surrounded by woods when it came ‘floating’ very gracefully by. Fortunately, it landed just a few feet away, and I was able to get sev. diff poses of it. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated. I am sending several captures for your best chance at ID’ing.
Thank you again for your time and service…you are very much appreciated!
Pat Garner, Hawk Point, MO
Lincoln Co., Hawk Point, MO abt 1hr 20 mins West of St. Louis, MO
Hi Pat,
Thank you for your sweet letter. This is a Thread Legged Bug, an Assassin bug in the subfamily Emesinae. We are relatively certain it is in the genus Emesaya, possibly Emesaya brevipennis which can be found on BugGuide. Like all Assassin Bugs, they are predatory.
Emesaya brevipennis is the mostly likely candidate.