Herbie's Beans - Black Widow And Super Skunk

Last pics for the day maybe 🤔.
I 🥰 the color of those!

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seaofgreen18 said:
Last and final victim for outside,Sour Diesel I want a taste of some old school
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Just a taste at this point, no?
seaofgreen18 said:
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LOL that's hysterical!
seaofgreen18 said:
@InTheShed betcha the BT doesn't work like Those in the video 😁 BRUTAL!
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Betcha it works better! Kills the biggest ones as well as the ones that don't fight back, and it's in every bite the caterpillars take. Assassins are where ever they are, BT is everywhere. ☠️ 🐛
 
InTheShed said:
Just a taste at this point, no?

LOL that's hysterical!

Betcha it works better! Kills the biggest ones as well as the ones that don't fight back, and it's in every bite the caterpillars take. Assassins are where ever they are, BT is everywhere. ☠️ 🐛
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Yup just a taste is about it,after this round outside I won't need any for awhile after fall ill just be loitering here!
 
How Do Assassin Bugs Hunt?
Assassin bugs are voracious hunters and they use their long proboscis to find and catch their prey.

The proboscis is a sharp, hollow tube that allows the bug to stab and suck the bodily fluids of their prey.

This method of hunting is unique to assassin bugs and it allows them to capture and feed on a wide variety of other insects, including caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, and more.

The assassin bug has an impressive set of skills that helps it to be a successful hunter.

It has excellent eyesight, allowing it to spot its prey from a distance.

It is also incredibly fast, which helps it to catch its prey before they can escape.

The assassin bug also has a keen sense of smell and taste, which allows it to find its prey quickly and accurately.

When an assassin bug finds its prey, it will use its proboscis to stab the prey and inject it with a toxin.

This toxin paralyzes the prey, making it easier for the bug to suck out its bodily fluids.

The toxin also prevents the prey from being able to fight back, ensuring a successful hunt.

Assassin bugs are also capable of hunting in groups, which makes them even more efficient hunters.

When hunting in groups, assassin bugs will take turns attacking their prey, allowing them to capture more insects in less time.

Overall, assassin bugs are incredibly efficient hunters and their unique hunting techniques allow them to keep insect populations in check.

By preying on other insects, assassin bugs provide an invaluable service to the environment.
 
Nature is so interesting!
 
the Assassin bug life cycle, where these bugs live, and where they come from

Assassin Bugs, as the name suggests, are interesting species that stab their prey before consuming it.

They’re voracious insect predators that can help keep your garden free from pests.


Found in many shapes and sizes, it’s difficult to recognize them due to the wide variety of body shapes they come in.

As nymphs, too, they are very visually similar to those other insects.

The only difference is that these bugs can deliver a nasty bite if disturbed. Let’s dive more into this species.

Assassin Bug Life Cycle
Immature Zelus Assassin Bug
What Are Assassin Bugs?
Assassin bugs are “true” bugs belonging to the family of Reduviidae that prey on other, smaller bugs.

Containing a wide variety of species, the names of these bugs come from the type of method they use to assassinate or kill their prey.

North America alone is home to over 150 of these.

Some common types of assassin bugs are the ambush bug or the wheel bug.

The various species have distinct bodies, but all of them have narrow heads and curved proboscis, which they use to stab their prey, inject a toxin and finally paralyze them.



Types of Assassin Bugs
Some common types of assassin bugs are:

Ambush bugs
As the name signifies, these assassin bugs kill their prey by lying in wait for an unsuspecting insect to get too close.

They have stout, chunky bodies with well-defined, large forelegs that are hooked in front.

They can vary in color from green to yellow, tan, dark brown, and sometimes patchy (like the Spined assassin bug).

This helps them effectively blend in with the flowers and stems on which they lie in wait. North America boasts around 30 species of ambush bugs.

Wheel Bugs
This is the most common species of assassin bug, comprising around 150 species in the family.

Their name comes from a spiky wheel or cog-like structure that is present on top of the insect’s thorax.

Wheel bugs are grey in color and feed on bees, caterpillars, aphids, and other insects.


Milkweed Assassin Bug
Kissing bugs
Kissing bugs are one insect you should stay away from! This species feeds on the blood of mammals, including humans and pets.

They mostly bite people in and around their mouths, giving them their names.

While the bite is not painful, it can transmit parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi, which cause Chagas disease.

Where Do They Live?
Assassin bugs are primarily tropical insects, but due to global warming, their habitat area has expanded to include some previously colder regions as well.

They are currently found in North and South America, all the way from Canada to parts of Latin America.

While no species have been found in Europe, favorable conditions do exist, and many people have suffered from diseases typically carried by the kissing bug.

They are generally found in vegetative areas. Some species of assassin bugs live in the soil.

Others can be found on plants, under bark, or in crevices in rocks. They can occasionally crawl indoors as well or in other farm structures like chicken coops.

What Do They Eat?
Assassin bugs feed on either of the two: either they are predators of invertebrates, or they are parasites of vertebrates.

Under the former, we have assassin bugs that eat caterpillars, soft-bodied insects, insect eggs, bees, thrips, aphids, and sometimes even lizards!

Under the latter, we have kissing bugs that feed exclusively on blood.


Common Assassin Bug
Assassin Bug Lifecycle
Assassin bugs are true bugs and hence go through 3 stages in their life. These are:

The egg stage
Female assassin bugs lay eggs on leaves, stems, or in soil crevices. The eggs hatch into wingless nymphs.

The nymph stage
The nymph stage goes through 5 instars. As an instar, the insect is still immature.

Nymphs will resemble the adults, but be smaller in size and, with each molt, develop more adult organs and features.

The adult stage
After the immature stages of wingless nymphs, the final molt results in a fully-frown adult assassin bug with dual wings.

There is no pupal stage.

Usually, they go through one or two generations in a year. For adults, overwintering depends on the species.

The Zelus regarding, for example, will go into overwintering as an adult. The Sinea diadema can overwinter in the egg stage.


Assassin Bug nymph
Can Assassin Bugs Fly?
Some species of assassin bugs, such as the ambush bugs, possess dual wings and can fly.

However, they are poor fliers and generally do not engage in flight.

They rely on swift movement and their bite as defense mechanisms. Most adult assassin bugs will not fly and, instead, walk rapidly if disturbed.

Frequently Asked Questions
How long does assassin bugs live for?
Assassin bugs typically live for between one and three years, depending on their environment.
They reach adult size after about six months and will spend the rest of their lives searching for prey.
In captivity, they can live up to three years if cared for properly.
Generally speaking, assassin bugs in the wild don’t survive as long due to predators, lack of food sources, and other more hostile elements that reduce their lifespan significantly.
Where do assassin bugs lay eggs?
Assassin bugs lay eggs in the soil or in other plants and debris.
Usually, the female assassin bug will deposit her eggs on the leaves or stems of nearby plants.
Some species of assassin bugs are known to hide their eggs at the base of thorns.
It is believed that predators like birds struggle when they try to reach these areas and look for an easier food source, protecting the assassin bug eggs from becoming a snack.
How fast do assassin bugs grow?
Assassin bugs grow very quickly, reaching full adulthood in only two weeks after hatching. The lifespan of an assassin bug is very short, usually lasting just a few months.
During this time frame, their growth rate is accelerated, and they can reach up to 15mm in length.
They feed both on invertebrate prey and also on nectar from flowers. As they grow, assassin bugs molt their exoskeleton several times during each stage of development.
 
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