Assassin Bug-Pselliopsis cinctus practicing IPM (Integrated Pest Management) on a Japanese Beetle-Popillia japonica.
Gardeners can purchase Assassin Bugs but ours are all here by their own choice. They won’t eradicate the unwanted beetles but do keep their numbers down. I suppose if we bought a box’o beetles that would make a difference but assassin bugs are not species specific so might wreak havoc on beneficials as well.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Woody Allen said something to the effect that it’s one big supermarket out there in nature, meaning that almost everything is food for some critter or other.
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I am just happy as a clam to be at the top of the food chain.
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I wouldn’t mind hiring an “assassin” for the Japanese beetles that have feasted on my roses this year, but I’d be afraid to introduce anything new to the environment. Perhaps I’m wrong about that. Still, it’s heartening to know that others share my pain.
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There are plenty of assassin bugs in most locations so finding some that are native to your locale might not be that invasive. If we just let Nature take its course generally things will balance out. I usually just pick the Japanese Beetles off by hand (part of the IPM strategy) and squeeze them. We tried one of those beetle traps that use pheromones but all that did was attract more from other yards.
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My immediate neighbors have one of those traps and I’ve had very few JBs this summer.
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Yup. I had the same experience. We have enough on our own.
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That is one exotic looking bug! Great capture and post, Steve!
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The first one of these I saw wowed me big time, Pete. One has to wonder why they evolved into such an attractive bug. I doubt their “beauty” is much of an allure for prey. Thanks, Pete!
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Keeping it as balanced as you can… 😉
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Nature takes care of her own…if we don’t get in the way.
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I love the color. I’ve seen a couple here but they looked far more “normal”. This one wants you to know how fearsome it is.
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Yup. Not much camouflage happening here. A relative which I will post soon, the ambush bug, does a much better job of hiding and disguising.
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What an amazing looking creature! I’ve never seen one.
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Glad to show you something new, Melissa. They are pretty handy to have around. 🙂
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Anything that would eat a Japanese beetle would be MOST welcome in my garden 🙂
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Love those striped stockings! 😉
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The stripy leg-warmers caught my eye too! Great shot, Steve! 🙂
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Thanks, Ann. I’ve another little subject with nice striped leggings for another day. 🙂
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Yes, those are quite cool. Now quite as cool as the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wizard-18-Inch-Wicked-Witch-Legs/dp/B002UDUPP0"Wicked Witch's though. 🙂
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Hmmm…https://www.amazon.com/Wizard-18-Inch-Wicked-Witch-Legs/dp/B002UDUPP0
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For the second time today my eyes are amazed and my mind is educated on the subject of bugs.
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Cool. What was the first?
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Mike Powell’s post of the same day.
https://michaelqpowell.com/2020/08/04/female-eastern-tiger-swallowtail/
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Thanks. Don’t know how I missed that.
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Assassin bugs, very aptly-named, are indeed the stuff of nightmares, especially if one has dreams (or fantasies) of being an insect. I’m surprised that no one has made a horror film featuring them. Yet.
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My favorites, until this colorful chap, has been the ambush bugs which are the same but further on down the line. Spent the morning with them. They are kind of scary looking…by they I mean both.
Actually, here is a horror film featuring an assassin bug and another of your nightmares come to life. I love the sound effects. 🙂
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That was one of the few “films” that did come up when I was looking for the possibility of a real film. And, oh, yeah, those sound effects help a lot.
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