I live in Florida and my pepper plants are loaded with these guys. I’m assuming they are beneficial because I just watched one snatch a white fly out of the air.
by TequilaMatch
7 Comments
Bill_Hubbard
Google lens says:
The milkweed assassin bug, **Zelus longipes**, may look frightening with its bright orange color and needle-like mouth parts, but this insect is an important predator of many household and garden pests. Assassin bugs are true bugs (Hemiptera) in the family Reduviidae.
thechickencoups
Milkweed assassin
MerrikLeads
Milkweed Assassin Bug. Friendly for pepper plants.
7 Comments
Google lens says:
The milkweed assassin bug, **Zelus longipes**, may look frightening with its bright orange color and needle-like mouth parts, but this insect is an important predator of many household and garden pests. Assassin bugs are true bugs (Hemiptera) in the family Reduviidae.
Milkweed assassin
Milkweed Assassin Bug. Friendly for pepper plants.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelus_longipes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelus_longipes)
Bug is ok assassin
Thank you! Awesome name.
Unfortunately they are greedy ladybug eaters
Took me a moment to notice the lower one (first pic) seems to be chowing down on a smaller insect.