On a wide expanse of green leaves, I found a bean podsucking bug standing proudly. It seemed to be in danger, from a distance, I could smell a foul odor. I searched around but found no predators. Strangely, however, as I got closer, the odor gradually dissipated. Perhaps it felt safe when I approached, so it no longer needed to emit that unpleasant odor.
The insect had a beautiful, long, slender body and long legs. As for its color, it was a lucky one. Its entire body was brown, a color very similar to that of a tree trunk. A color that easily blended in with its surroundings. At first glance, the insect's body was plain brown, but upon closer inspection, it was adorned with beautiful, matching patterns.
However, it's important to know that behind its beauty, this insect is feared by farmers, especially bean growers. They suck the sap from the bean pods or fruit. Bean seeds lose nutrients, and the fruit slowly wilts and rots. The effect of this insect invading a peanut garden is that the harvest can drop significantly or even result in total crop failure.
As I was leaving the area, I found a similar insect in a spider trap. I checked, trying to free it. It turned out to be dead. It had probably been trapped there for a long time. Now I realized why the insect I found first emitted such a foul odor. Perhaps it was trying to rescue its trapped friend. But fate had other plans, its friend was already dead.
| Latin name | Riptortus linearis |
|---|---|
| Observation date | 20 Feb, 2026 |
| Camera used | realme 7 Pro |
| Photographers | @reachdreams |
| Location | Aceh, Indonesia |
| Link to original community |
|---|
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339378158
| Latitude | Longitude | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 4.695135 | 96.7493993 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=4.695135&mlon=96.7493993 |
