Sticky Substance on Eggs Improves Predation Success and Substrate Adhesion in Newly Hatched Zelus renardii (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Instars

Abstract Oviparous species have evolved eggs with traits that provide protection, nutrients, or symbionts for the offspring. In the assassin bug genus Zelus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), newly hatched first instars have been observed to collect a sticky substance from their eggs and coat it on their legs. Here, we tested the hypotheses that the sticky substance improves predation success and substrate adhesion ability of the Zelus renardii Kolenati first instar, Z. renaidii instars that had access to the sticky substance imposed higher mortality on adult flies and became dislodged at higher wind speeds than instars without access to sticky substance.