Foul-smelling insect is branded ‘Hitler bug’ for its markings resembling the Fuhrer

An insect already feared for its pungent odor has gained a new source of infamy in India: its uncanny resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

The man-faced stink bug is a notorious pest known to congregate in large groups and devour fruit, cotton, corn, soybean, and cashew crops.

Native to Southeast Asia and India, the insect is easily identifiable by the pattern on its back, which is said to resemble a man’s face when viewed upside down.

But now its resemblance to a particular man has led to Catacanthus incarnatus being dubbed ‘Hitler’s Worm’ by some in India.

It’s part of a recent trend of naming insects after their human resemblances, according to The New Indian Express.

But now the insect’s resemblance to a particular man has led to Catacanthus incarnatus being labeled a ‘Hitler bug’ by some in India. Pictured: Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler (file photo)

“The trend of naming bugs after popular personalities began recently when Catacanthus Incarnatus was named ‘Hitler,’ as it resembles the face of the German dictator,” the report states.

Other species were named after Bollywood icons such as Amrish Puri and AK Hangal, according to the newspaper.

The goal is apparently to “create interest in research students by making study errors easier to spot.”

The comparison between Catacanthus incarnatus and Hitler is easier to understand when you look at the bug upside down.

In this position, the dark tips of the wings resemble the dictator’s hair, two black spots resemble his eyes, and the crest on his back forms his nose.

In some specimens, a black line or other pair of dots closer to the head recreates Hitler’s infamous moustache.

However, wildlife watchers gave a mixed reaction to the comparison.

Photographer Michael Lässle, who saw the insect in Langkawi, Malaysia, said: ‘Arthropods don’t need Hitler!

“I suppose there is some resemblance to a stylized Hitler as there is to Napoleon and Napoleon’s spider.

“But different people can see different things in nature, and therefore I prefer ‘man-faced stink bug’ as a nickname.”

“If I were the bug, I certainly wouldn’t want to be compared to Hitler.”

David Ong, who photographed the creature in a forest near Kuala Lumpur, said Elvis was a better comparison, but he didn’t care for the nickname.

He said: ‘Okay, since it’s just a common name; it is more accurate to use the scientific name. We call it man face without referring to any person in particular.

The comparison between Catacanthus incarnatus and Hitler is easier to understand when you look at the bug upside down, although not everyone is convinced by the comparison. In this position, the dark tips of the wings resemble the dictator’s hair, two black spots resemble his eyes, and the crest on his back forms his nose.

Wildlife watchers gave a mixed reaction to the comparison to Hitler in India.

Although it seems random, the peculiar face-shaped pattern could have evolutionary benefit. The colors could serve to warn potential predators that the insect is poisonous or tastes bad, and the false eyespots could draw attention away from the vulnerable area of ​​the head.

But the creature’s most important defense is its scent, according to Sadashiv Waghmare, an assistant professor of zoology at the University of Northern Maharashtra in Jalgaon, India.

He said: ‘It secretes odors through its stink gland, which is located in its metathorax, to protect itself from enemies. It is a very common species.

Catacanthus incarnatus was discovered in 1778 by British entomologist Dru Drury, according to Scientific American magazine.