I was juicing tangerines in the kitchen when I noticed this little bug atop the pile of fruit. I took the tangerine it was on outside and tried to free it onto the rail there. The bug stuck to the fruit, scampering around as I rotated it. Eventually, it dismounted and I went inside to get my camera.
When I started taking photos, the bug accommodated me by approaching the lens. It quickly got too close so I moved to a different spot. The same thing happened. Every time I moved, the bug followed me until we both tired of the game and I left it in peace and it did the same to me.
At first, I thought it was a baby Praying Mantis because of the curve of its body, but a bit of research revealed that this is an Assassin Bug nymph. Assassin Bugs can deliver a painful bite, so maybe it was after me to take me out!
This one was only about half-an-inch long, as indicated by the average-size tangerine on the rail above and the fact the bug is standing on the thin side of a 2×4.
Graham's Island 
An interesting shot of the tiny nymph. My husband once made the mistake of rescuing by hand a small assassin bug from inside the house. To defend itself from what it thought was a threat rather than a rescue it bit him on the thumb. It was instantly very painful – a clear blister soon appeared under the skin as the assassin bug injects an enzyme that dissolves or liquifies the tissues under the skin. Ouch.
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That must have hurt. I was backing away much of the time, just because I wasn’t sure what it was, but knowing I didn’t want something like that to happen to me.
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Oh yes, it was out to do you in. They are fascinating insects 🙂
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Indeed. I don’t see a lot here, but I’d love to see one in action, just not on me!
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Here’s one I have
https://bushboy.blog/2017/09/17/six-word-saturday/
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That’s a great photo and really shows how assassin bugs attack. It’s a bug eat bug world out there isn’t it!
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Yep
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Aww, it’s cute in its own scary way, Graham! I guess he liked you. I wonder what it assassinates?
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It assassinates other bugs. It’s hard to see in this photos but, folded under its head and neck is a large curved proboscis, which is used to stab and kill prey!
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Quite a name for this bug! Very interesting!
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They should wear name tags. That would be enough to scare off predators!
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🤣😂 I agree!
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