What is this bizarre bug found in a Kamloops home?

A strange looking insect was spotted crawling on the floor of a home in Kamloops last week.

Homeowner Mike Jones snapped a photo of the critter that was covered in a thick layer of dust, lint and pet hair before he squished it.

“I was shocked when I saw it. I’d never seen a bug like that before,” he told iNFOnews.ca in a message.

iNFOnews.ca sent the photo to experts at The Bug Guys Pets and Exotics in Lake Country who identified the insect as an assassin bug of which there are numerous different species native to North America.

This one was so covered up with dust, a tactic used for camouflaging, it is hard to identify but the best guess is it’s a spined assassin bug.

The assassin bug family contains more than 7,000 species worldwide. They’re fascinating insects that prey on other insects and are known for their remarkable hunting tactics.

Some assassin bug species have notoriously macabre behaviour like wearing the corpses of fallen enemies as a disguise. Wearing corpses helps to hide the assassin bug and its scent, an effective tactic for avoiding predators and sneaking up on prey, according to Insect Hive.

Assassin bugs are ambush predators that use a needle-like proboscis to stab their victims and inject paralyzing venom that breaks down the victim’s insides. They often target pest species that damage crops or spread diseases, and help control prey that other predators are not able to reach. Assassin bugs are also prey for birds, large spiders and wasps, contributing to balanced ecosystems.

The bugs aren’t known to harm humans. The experts at The Bug Guys Pets and Exotics suggested placing assassin bugs back outside when they crawl into your home.