Bugs dying under lily leaves

Q: Why are all these mosquitoes dying under my lily leaves? t

A: University of Georgia insect expert Dr. Nancy Hinkle says these are the shed skins (exuviae) of insects like midges, aphids, etc.

When one of these insects molts (ecdysis) it has to grab onto something to pull against to wiggle out of the old skin. You might have seen the shed skins of cicadas on pine tree trunks.

Dr. Hinkle noted the skin of an assassin bug among the midge skins.

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