Need help identifying...

[maxttu]

These lil insects! They are clustered together like they just hatched. Thanks in advance!

 

[maxttu]

Are they baby assassins?

 

[SaintJimmy]

Looks like either assassin bugs, wheelbugs, or strange ants.

Try making a post to http://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug

 

[Solid Snake]

They are assassin bugs. Dont let them near you, the animals, or the kiddos. They sort of hurt like heck if they sting you.

 

[maxttu]

Shoot! As you can probably tell, they're all gathered on one of my cages! I guess I need to blast them with a shot of water!

Thanks for the input!

 

[CarlC]

What you have is Zelus_longipes. The milkweed assassin.


Carl

 

[maxttu]

What you have is Zelus_longipes. The milkweed assassin.


Carl

That's very specific! Thanks! Should I eradicate?

 

[CarlC]

If it were me I would check the stinger or sucker to make sure it isn't hardend yet. This species of assassin eats soft body foods. I fed them silkworms and cabbage loopers. When they were smaller the sucker was pretty soft and flexible. I've only ever fed them to wheel bugs (another assassin) and various mantis species. I wasn't keeping chameleons at the time.
Even if you don't feed them to the chams they are a interesting insect to raise and they are very beneficial to gardens.

Carl