Behaviour
Arocatus longiceps © Natural History Museum, London
Like many true bugs, and many brightly coloured insects, Arocatus longiceps produces a foul smell when crushed or disturbed. This smell is actually a cocktail of toxic compounds which makes them extremely distasteful to predators. This is why they live so conspicuously - their chemical arsenal makes them unafraid of predation. Nevertheless some individuals fall victim to spiders, especially during the winter months when better-tasting food is scarce.
The adult bugs are able to fly well, which is helpful for dispersal, and also if they are blown out of the very tall trees in which they live. During summer winds, hundreds of the bugs can fall down like rain from the canopy above. The immatures (also called larvae or nymphs) are unable to fly, so if they find themselves on the ground they have to walk back up the tree trunk. After strong winds hundreds can be seen climbing trees - less fortunate individuals climb buildings, lamp posts and other objects.
