17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Assassin bug

This assassin bug was perched on a petal of a wild sunflower, where it was awaiting a prey to come within its reach. When smaller insects are close, it will grab them, inject a paralytic poison and digestive enzymes. It then can suck out the digested meal through its long sucking tube.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2019
Date Uploaded: 10.2019
Photo Location: Dedham, Massachusetts, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Michael Ross