September 10, 2026
A goofy looking creature, a true bug, making an appearance as if it’s all set for a Halloween party. An Orange Assassin Bug (Pselliopus barberi), found across the eastern and central United States.
They eat creatures in our gardens, helping us as they do. Consuming aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, armyworms, and beetles. They themselves don’t eat any plant material.
These bugs are not going to seek you out, but don’t pick them up. They are all set to defend themselves, by biting if you do. Its bite can be quite painful due to injection of digestive enzymes used to control their prey. This causes a sharp, burning sensation in humans. So treat them with respect. Don’t pick them up.
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