Spined Assassin Bug nymphs

Description:

Recently-hatched, tiny assassin bugs. Bright yellow abdomens with black markings, long yellow antennae, shiny black for the rest of their bodies. Awesome spiny forelegs. These critters were staying close to each other, as a group. I read that their staying together when newly-hatched is part of their ant-mimicry ("myrmecomorphy"), which they use to avoid predation while small and vulnerable. Also pictured is the egg mass. The tops have been popped off like bottle caps, and the pods seem to have fluffy white stuff in them. Assassin bugs have the coolest eggs!

Habitat:

Grill cover, on my back patio in a place that is always shaded. The surrounding area has open grassy fields, lots of shrub-type plants, flowers, woods, and a creek (basically, a wide range of habitat options for the bugs).

Notes:

Also called "Crowned Assassin Bug"