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These Brilliant Creatures have caused a lot of fuss... but at first glance it's hard to see why!

They live together in big groups, and they look friendly enough - so what's the problem?
Well, these are assassin bugs, and they're nasty. Very nasty indeed.

Given the chance they'd bite, and that would really hurt - which is why Stephen and Gail are taking no chances and wearing protective goggles.
Assassin bugs shoot poisonous venom up to a distance of 32cm with pinpoint accuracy.

They can even fire it backwards, over their shoulder.

The venom causes skin irritation and even short-term blindness.
Just like dogs, these bugs are pack huntes. They work together to stalk and finally ambush their victims!

Once they've cornered their an assasssin leaps on, pinning it down and repeatedly stabbing it with its needle-like beak. The assassin then injects the poison and waits for its victim to stop struggling.
And if there's a shortage of food the assassins will eventually turn on each other, hunting down and killing the same individuals that they packhunted with.

Nasty. And brilliant - but deadly.

© The Foundation TV Productions Ltd 2001



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