08/19/2026
While snapping a photo of my native Clematis virginiana, I spotted this Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes). As the name implies, this is a predatory insect which can play a role in controlling pest insects in our yards and gardens. If you look carefully, you can see the beak which is used to insert salivary secretions that immobilize and liquify the prey’s internal tissues so they can be ingested by the assassin bug.
