I opened up a redbay leaf roll to see how the little palamedes swallowtail caterpillar was doing that I knew was in it, and I found its remains next to an interesting looking bug. I brought in several more palamedes and spicebush swallowtail caterpillars from outside to raise myself after seeing this - I didn't want to raise any more this spring, since I've already raised so many, but I can't stand to see butterfly cats get eaten! :(

Apparently this bug is some type of predatory stink bug. I looked in my big bug book and found some pictures of spined soldier bug nymphs and two-spotted stink bug nymphs that looked very similar to this one, but not exactly.

Anybody know what type this is? And is it just me, or do the markings on its back look like a picture of a house with big windows?

{{!gwi}}
Sherry