This is the 3rd time I've picked off one of these insects on my container plants. Its body is about 3/4" long and the segmented antennae almost double its total length. The end of the abdomen is reddish-orange, although when I smashed it, it curled under and doesn't show the color well. If this is a good guy, I'll leave it alone next time. Can anyone ID it for me?
It appears to be an Assasin Bug nymph.
I never realized that assassin bugs were so varied in appearance. Next time, I'll let them graze on their prey. I also learned that their bites are painful, so I was lucky to have escaped their vengeance. Thanks, kwanjin.
Very welcome. Assassin bugs go through several changes and look different each time. It's a fascinating world we live in.
There are many types of assassin bugs, wheel bugs, kissing bugs, stink bugs, milkweed bugs, and the list goes on and on. One thing about assassin bugs, some eat other bugs and some eat plants, and kissing bugs like to kiss you at night, and that's never good YUK! I'm going to try to find out which assassin bug you have to make sure it's a good guy.
