Predatory Stink Bug (likely Florida Predatory Stink Bug)

Fields, gardens, and forests throughout the Southeastern United States and neotropics

Generalist predator that feeds on a wide variety of larvae, including caterpillars (as shown), beetles, and other soft-bodied insects

Diurnal predator that uses a piercing-sucking proboscis to inject paralyzing enzymes into prey; often found on plants where lepidopteran larvae are present

Beneficial to ecosystems and agriculture as a natural pest control agent; however, it can occasionally prey on desirable species like Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus)