Assassin …
The most recent, from a few days ago in the hot sun. A few shots before she flew away, a rare occurrence that, assassins flying.
*Click on the pictures for a proper look …
A younger version, from a winter’s night, others could be found nearby. At some point they must become a danger to each other.
Found throughout the garden, only requirement being others may live and eat there. This plant good for caterpillars at one time.
You can see it’s a youngster by the wing buds – not developed much at all. Nice to get the blue car in the background.
The kill … the only consideration being hunger, instinctively. Slip that lance between the armour and pretty quick the beetle is a meal.
It doesn’t lend itself to many angles for portrait. Here on a dried out banana skin, taking advantage of the others feeding there.
Too small to make a meal, that fruit fly on an old banana. But others, bigger, do come and die while dining on the fermenting pulp.
Is there such a thing as a pretty assassin bug? Not really, but they can be appreciated for being what they are, unselfconsciously so.
On her way to somewhere else, no food here today, buds not yet open to feed the other flying things. Though some eat early.
… though nothing ‘common or garden’ about these creatures. One of the many exotic creatures that pass the seasons here.
The eggs were laid last year and through the winter the little ones proved themselves in the rough and tumble of survival in the layers of green.
They often ambush their prey, waiting motionless for the unwary passer-by, but they are also very active in pursuit of a meal when need be –
a couple of older shots – click.
I have seen small ‘herds’ of these as tiny hatchlings that wander the formations for a while, but not many actually survive to maturity and develop wings.
Winged, a world of difference to realising their potential. What a privilege that is, earned.
We, people, must learn to soar otherwise.
© Mark Berkery ……. Click on those pictures for a closer look
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Nature's Place 
Most of these appear quite well-fed: A fine compliment to the bounty in your wonderful garden.
I suspect a meal would keep an assassin going for a while. Wild animals seem able to do well enough with a meal every now and then.
great shots!
Thanks YB…
wonderful Mark, always enjoy the narrative
Thanks Daniel.
So do I … the narrative being the progression of all things in the garden, of which I become a part at times.
Beauty and the beast. The Assassin(s) on the flowers. Ugly as, but very functional.
Or beauty in the beast. All things arising from the one life. And everything in its place.