Assassin Nymph on the loose in the Garden!

Once again, I was all set to blip a great fritillary and then I found this! The orange dude is an Assassin Bug nymph (Pselliopus) I thought the white dude was another nymph but I now think that it is the empty skin of the orange dude. Either that or it is the empty skin of a sibling that Orange Dude killed. Are you following me so far? White dude - empty; Orange Dude - alive and ready to kill.

Assassin bugs aren't as bad as the name would imply. They are considered beneficial in the garden because they kill a lot of "bad" insects. However, if handled, they will also give human fingers a painful sting. I give them wide berth and let them live out their homicidal existence unhampered. They inject their prey with a substance that basically liquifies it, making it much easier to eat. Which is why I think the White Dude may be a hapless sibling. Anyone with insider knowledge of the Pselliopus barberi should weigh in with opinions...

Anyhoo... I haven't seen one of these guys since last summer so I was kind of excited to see one today, all cozy on one of the sunflowers in the butterfly garden. The phlox, red bee balm and pink native bee balm are all starting to bloom so the number of pollinators in the garden is going through the roof - many great photo ops. I posted my six favorite shots of the day on Flickr starting HERE. Included are the fritillary, two skippers, a bee headfirst in the balm and a dragon.

Thank you for sending my little hummie flying into the Spotlight - I appreciate all the comments very much. It is very tempting right now to just blip hummers every day - I do so love seeing them and there are so many buzzing around my garden. I will try to restrain myself to no more than two a week, however ... maybe...

Two days until my BIL and SIL arrive - can't wait to see them!

Happy Tuesday, people...

xxoo
Debbi

Post Script: I received a response from Daniel at WhatsThatBug who had this to say about my little nymph...
This is not sibling cannibalism. Rather is is the metamorphosis of a Sycamore Assassin Bug from one instar to a later instar. The shed skin is known as the exuvia.