pale green assassin bug (Zelus luridus) at Cardinal Marsh IA 653A7981
These pale green assassin bugs are beautiful but deadly predators on other bugs they find in the forest. Amazingly, they can produce glue from glands on their front leg to lay sticky traps on the leaves and then sit back and wait for a hapless bug to get stuck there. They then stab said prey with a long needle-like beak and inject enzymes into the captured insect to dissolve its insides - sucked out then through that "straw" like a milkshake. Something to think about next time you visit the local soda shop.
pale green assassin bug (Zelus luridus) at Cardinal Marsh IA 653A7981
These pale green assassin bugs are beautiful but deadly predators on other bugs they find in the forest. Amazingly, they can produce glue from glands on their front leg to lay sticky traps on the leaves and then sit back and wait for a hapless bug to get stuck there. They then stab said prey with a long needle-like beak and inject enzymes into the captured insect to dissolve its insides - sucked out then through that "straw" like a milkshake. Something to think about next time you visit the local soda shop.