This week, the question was: What is going on here, and which one of these is the good guy?
Here we see an assassin bug that has caught and is feeding on a lady beetle. Normally, both of these insects are good guys, though when assassin bugs get hungry, they will eat just about anything they can catch. This unlucky lady beetle was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Predators that prey on multiple species of prey, like this assassin bug, are known as generalist predators (as opposed to specialists, which feed on a specific type or species of prey). Keep reading about predatory insects here.
This week’s question is from Justin Ballew, Extension Fruit and Vegetable Research Associate.
The South Carolina Grower 