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| Assassin Bugs |
Assassin Bug (Zelus spp.) | | Scientific classification | | | | Subfamilies | | Harpactorinae
Peiratinae
Tegeinae
Triatominae
etc. |
Reduviidae is a family of predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera. It includes assassin bugs and wheel bugs (genera include Arilus, Melanolestes, Psellipus, Reduvius, Rhiginia, Sinea, Triatoma, and Zelus), ambush bugs (genera include Apiomerus and Phymata), and thread-legged bugs (genera include Emesinae and Emesaya).
Physical Characteristics
There are more than 150 species in North America alone, with species existing all over the world. Adult bugs often range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches (11 to 33 mm). It has thick forewings, long legs, and a segmented beak. Most species are dark in color with hues of brown, black, and red.
The female and male are distinguished by the female's slightly narrower thorax. In many species, the difference is barely noticeable even when side-by-side.
Feeding It uses its long proboscis to inject a lethal toxin that liquefies the insides of it prey. It then sucks out the liquefied remains. The legs of these bugs are covered in tiny hairs that serve to make them sticky to hold onto their prey while it feeds. The venom is effective for even larger insects. Some species are also able to spit their venom at the eyes of predators from up to a foot away.
They have been known to feed on cockroaches and are regarded in many locations as beneficial. Some people breed them as pets and for insect control.
Human Contact The assassin bug has been known to bite humans when not handled carefully. For some species the bite is known to be very painful, sometimes with effects lasting up to four months. and sometimes causing allergic reactions.
A few species located in Central and South America carry sometimes fatal Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).
Some reduviidea, particularly Melanolestes spp., are also known as kissing bugs due to the most common location of bites. Bites around a persons mouth are usually attributed to reduviidea hunting for bedbugs in a persons home.
External links - Assassin Bug Home Page (http://milwaukee.uwex.edu/urbanag/bugnet2/outdoors/outwoodys/assassin/assassin.html) (University of Wisconsin)
- "Amazing Assassins" (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/conmag/2003/06/50.htm) (Missouri Consverationist)
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