Identification
This colorful bug is approximately 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length. The thorax and abdomen are bright orange. The abdomen has a rim of black bands. The head is yellow-orange with black striping. The legs are also yellow with black bands. The black antennae are long, thin and banded black and white.
This assassin bug is common in fall in Fontenelle Forest on vegetation, especially Stinging Nettles, but the individual in image 5 was photographed on 10 May 2013, the individual in image 3 was found on the 2nd of June 2013 and the individual in image 4 was photographed on 1 June 2016.
There is a similar species in the east, P. cinctus, but it is dull orange or brownish in color. The adults hibernate in winter under bark or under rocks.
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