Summary
Some assassin bugs pile the bodies of their prey onto their own backs as a gruesome disguise. Deep Look shows how this predator uses a stack of corpses to hide and hunt.
Viewer safety
This episode shows a predator catching and eating real prey (a normal part of nature science) -- preview if that might unsettle your class.
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
An assassin bug stabs prey with a sharp beak, then sticks the empty husks onto its back. The pile hides its shape from both its next meal and its own predators. This unusual trait gives it an advantage as both a hunter and a target for hiding.
- What does the assassin bug do with the bodies of its prey?
- How does this disguise help it both hunt and hide?
- Why would an unusual trait like this help the bug survive?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: predator, prey, camouflage, advantage.
Try it: Draw an assassin bug with a stack of husks on its back. Write how this trait helps it survive as a hunter.