Yellow Insect
Location: Newton, New Jersey, weeping cherry tree
August 20, 2011 10:09 am
I am hoping you can identify this little guy. I found him on a weeping cherry tree in our yard, in northern New Jersey (mid August.) He seemed to be the only one there. When I first saw him he appeared to be stalking a small fly, so I am thinking he may be carnivorous?
Signature: Debbi
Assassin Bug Nymph
Hi Debbi,
Your suspicions are correct. This is a predatory Assassin Bug. In our opinion, it is a Sycamore Assassin Bug, most likely Pselliopus cinctus based on BugGuide photos.
Thanks, Daniel! I have been trying to find out what this is since I took the picture last week. I tried Googling “yellow bugs” but that got me … exactly nowhere! The tree he was on is also teaming with wasps, yellow jackets and a host of other winged critters, including hummingbirds. Amazing to me that nature would make this little guy so colorful – you’d think that bright color would make it attractive to birds.
Thanks again – great website you’ve got here.
Debbi
I like This
Definitely a Pselliopus nymph.