Insects Using Tools to Capture Prey: Rare Examples Found in Assassin Bugs.
Australian assassin bugs have been observed using resin from spinifex grass as a tool to catch and keep their prey. Researchers from Macquarie University found that the bugs were more successful at capturing prey when they had resin on their bodies, regardless of the type of prey. The bugs were observed scraping the resin off the spinifex leaves and meticulously applying it to their bodies, especially on their front legs. This behavior is ingrained in the insects and meets the widely-used definitions of tool use.
