This assassin bug, some species in genus Zelus, shared quality space in this gazania flower with a geometrid caterpillar without evidence of any appetite for caterpillar, at least for as long as I was observing (a surprisingly long time, for someone as busy as me). According to several sources, including UC IPM, Zelus are predators of caterpillars. So, either this particular caterpillar wasn't the right size, color, or flavor or this particular assassin wasn't hungry. Yet.
Anyway, the painstakingly slow movements of the bug, and the stiff posturing of the caterpillar made a nice tableau in the late afternoon gazania glow.
1 comment:
Neat blog! Now I have a resource to help me identify bugs. I've got a photo of one that I don't know what it is... will try and post soon.
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