These amazing bugs are so exciting to see in our herb house today. There are over 300 species of assassin bug, and they are all ferocious predators. They eat soft bodied prey like caterpillars, flies, bees, but also other bugs and beetles like stink bugs.
They are slow moving bugs that catch their prey by ambush. They grab them with their forelegs and puncture them with their proboscis. They pump in a secretion that immobilises the prey as well as liquifying its body contents, it then sucks out the contents and leaves an empty husk behind. They are a particularly effective beneficial insect as they will feed and feed until there is no more food, eating 100s of pests in their lifetime.
Plant Queen Annes lace, alfalfa, daisies, dandelions, dill, fennel, marigolds and tansy to attract Assassin bugs to your garden.