An assassin bug on Cholla cactus in the Anza Borrego Desert. This one looks similar to the Western bloodsucking conenose assassin bug, which sucks on the blood of mammals, including people by injecting an anesthetic and anticoagulant, similar to mosquitoes. However, it appears to be missing the striped margins on the edge of its carapace. In any case, some assassin bugs are capable of biting and should not be handled. Others are harmless. If in doubt however, sometimes discretion is a good thing.
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