You lurk in the midst 
Of Goldenrod flowers
Seeking the right moment
To earn your given name.

Mixing the color palate
With greenish-yellow, 
White and brown hues,
You are well camouflaged.

Small, yet bulbous eyes
Watch with intensity
Waiting for prey
To approach. 

Raptorial claws on muscular legs
Grab, and then impale
The victim’s body
With your short beak.

Meal size
Is of no importance
As you’ll take
Anything you can reach.

Once immobilized,
You inject paralyzing saliva
That liquifies its innards
Into nutrients you sip.

Sometimes you attack
When you are 
In premarital status,
Which can last forever.

Being the smaller, darker male
You remain on the female’s back,
Guarding in hopes to claim her
When the time is right.

Your antennae twitch
As you tap forelegs, 
And finally convince her
To join you in a canoodle dance.

Stealthy are you
With camouflage capabilities 
And predatory prowess
That aids a healthy ecosystem.

Your swift hunting technique
Targets a variety 
On insects both beneficial
And those that are pests. 

As I hunt for you
I realize you are not alone
For others use the same flowers
To hide amongst and wait.

But today, let’s celebrate
You in the Phymata genus,
The Jagged Ambush Bugs, 
Geniuses that I think you are.