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Insect diversity in the tropics almost defies the imagination.   This assassin bug, approx. 1 cm long, shows some remarkable color patterns and ornamentation.  Just after this photo was taken a 6-7 mm long beetle was taken as prey.  The beetle was grasped by the two front legs and impaled, after several attempts, by the bug's proboscis, which is nearly 1/2 its body length (tucked out of sight under the body in this photo). 

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