While I was checking on all the upcoming new growth on the prickly pear cactus I spotted a bug hanging out on the surface of the pads of the cacti. It has a black shell and orange tips to its antenna.. They look like stink bugs, but bigger. I think its an Assassin bug, a predatory insect probably waiting for a potential meal to scurry by.
I am surprised it could get so deep within the spines without issue. It is pretty well protected in there from birds and such, hopefully it hunts something.. if anything is feeding on my cacti. I have not seen any signs of that but maybe the bug is onto something and knows about some critters I do not.
The flower buds of the Eastern Prickly Pear are really coming along. Hope they open in a week or so. Eventually I should have some cacti fruit to eat if they do well. I wonder what color the cactus fruit meat will be.. its usually a deep red color inside.
Even the paddles growing through the wiring in the baskets have flowers forming.
I started to count them all and got up close to 100.
Its good to see both paddles and flowers forming, I think they are quite happy in the newly refreshed baskets.
The Brittle Prickly pear are also growing, but no signs of flowers on them yet. But if they are anything like other opuntias they should also bloom eventually when ready.
The Mojave prickly pear are also producing new paddles, but no flowers on those either.
Well it was pretty cool seeing that bug hanging out within the cacti spines. Only seen it once, but I am sure it has been there longer than I have noticed.
