Death by The Milkweed Assassin Bug

 Watch out fellow insects!!! There's a highly lethal killer on the prowl and he's... IN THAT BUSH!!!!

(The master killer) by me

    While orange and black may not be the scariest of colors, the Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes) is a terrifying threat for a lot of insects around Florida. These members of the Reduviidae family of Assassin Bugs which are known for being territorial ambush predators. This also makes them closely related cousins to the Kissing Bug, a name you're probably more familiar with. These insects can normally be found everywhere from grass to gardens and can be distinguished by their long legs/antennae, orange and black body and their massive, beak-like appendage.

  These voracious bugs have one of the most interesting ways of hunting prey. Similar to Regal Jumping Spiders, which we've talked about before, they don't wait for their prey to get stuck in a web and instead prefer being more hands on. They'll begin by stalking their prey, slowly getting closer to the targeted bug until they can use their sticky legs to snatch them up. Once the prey is trapped, the Assassin bug goes for its final strike by stabbing its food with the long beak. This beak is a very unique appendage which has the ability to inject the prey with a mixture of enzymes and digestive juices which liquify the inside of the entrapped bug. The Assassin Bug's beak can then be used to immediately suck up the bug soup it's created before tossing away the empty shell of the eaten bug. 

    

(A baby assassin bug with it's meal) - by me

    Just like the American Cockroach, the life cycle of an Assassin Bug has no metamorphosis and stays a similar look to the adult stages. They start off as egg clusters left on leaves by adult before hatching into their nymphal instar stages. During this stage, they look similar to a tiny version of their adult counterparts, just like a baby human! These baby bugs even act similarly to adults by participating in the same hunting methods they do. It's only a matter of molts before they grow to become a full fledged adult assassin, prepared to strike from the shadows with its deadly beak. It's at this time they also grow their wings which they also use to fly across leaves to surprise attack their prey. 

    While Assassin Bugs may look cool, it's important to know that these bugs can attack you if they feel threatened. The bite has been described as being as painful as a wasp sting including swelling and burning pain. Some members of the Assassin Bug family have been known to spread a parasite known as Chagas through their bite which can be life threatening and just like all bugs, it can cause Anaphylactic Shock if you happen to be allergic to bug stings. For the most part, these are mostly rare instances however it's always important to take the necessary precautions when getting bitten by an Assassin Bug or any insect for that matter. Tend to the bite area and if something feels wrong, see a doctor. 

    While the Milkweed Assassin Bug is an extraordinary insect, it's important to give them their space. These insects only want to be deadly to the things they can eat. They don't want to try to bite you; they'd rather just watch you from afar while slurping their Shield Bug flavored Mimosa from the comfort of a cozy leaf. Their insatiable hunger makes them amazing bugs for the environment and your gardens so by keeping these orange friends around, you get to see less bushes destroyed by large amounts of beetles and other harmful insects. Be safe out there, and watch out for giant orange assassins that like soup!

(OH GOD THERE HE IS RUN!) - by me

Citations:

Milkweed assassin bug - zelus longipes linnaeus. (n.d.). https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/bugs/zelus_longipes.htm#desc

Whitwam, D. (2024b, April 19). All about the milkweed assassin bug. Whitwam Organics. https://whitwamorganics.com/blogs/news/milkweed-assassin-bug