vayda on Nostr: 🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨 Zelus luridus is a predator of other insects that ...
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
Zelus luridus is a predator of other insects that occur on leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs. Often they wait in ambush resting on a leaf, but they may actively hunt. Zelus luridus can often be seen feeding on prey such as small flies, wasps, or sawflies but will hunt more sedentary insects such as caterpillars.
Zelus luridus has forelegs modified to help grasp prey. However, they also use sticky substances to ensnare and hold insects. Newly hatched nymphs use the sticky coating of the egg mass to cover the forelegs. Older nymphs and adults have specialized “sundew setae” that produce the sticky fluid of the forelegs.
Adults are elongate-bodied insects with a narrow head that supports it beak-like mouthparts. Average length of adult females is 16 mm, males are slightly smaller (14 mm), and coloration varies from yellow-green to yellow or reddish brown. Nymphs are narrower bodied, wingless, and green.
Zelus luridus is a predator of other insects that occur on leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs. Often they wait in ambush resting on a leaf, but they may actively hunt. Zelus luridus can often be seen feeding on prey such as small flies, wasps, or sawflies but will hunt more sedentary insects such as caterpillars.
Zelus luridus has forelegs modified to help grasp prey. However, they also use sticky substances to ensnare and hold insects. Newly hatched nymphs use the sticky coating of the egg mass to cover the forelegs. Older nymphs and adults have specialized “sundew setae” that produce the sticky fluid of the forelegs.
Adults are elongate-bodied insects with a narrow head that supports it beak-like mouthparts. Average length of adult females is 16 mm, males are slightly smaller (14 mm), and coloration varies from yellow-green to yellow or reddish brown. Nymphs are narrower bodied, wingless, and green.