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Family Reduviidae - Assassin Bugs

Wheel Bug - Arilus cristatus True Bug? - Zelus renardii Assassin Bug ? - Rasahus hamatus Reduviidae - Rasahus biguttatus Assassin Bug - Pselliopus Ambush Bug with Prey - Phymata Reduvius nymph - Reduvius personatus Jagged Ambush Bug with Prey - Phymata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Explanation of Names
Latin reduvia 'hangnail'(1)
Numbers
184 spp. in 49 genera north of Mexico(2); second largest heteropteran family, with close to 7,000 spp. in almost 1,000 genera worldwide(3), arranged in 25 subfamilies; world taxa cataloged on(4)
Overview of our fauna based on the classification synopsis prepared by Dan Swanson
Taxa not yet in the guide are marked (*)
Family REDUVIIDAE
Subfamily Ectrichodiinae
Genus Rhiginia

Tribe Emesini
Genera *Emesa, Gardena, Stenolemoides, Stenolemus

Genus Ploiaria


Genera *Emesopsis, Empicoris

Subfamily *Bactrodinae
Genus *Bactrodes
Subfamily Harpactorinae
Tribe Apiomerini (sometimes treated as Subfamily Apiomerinae)
Genus Apiomerus


Subfamily Microtominae

Subfamily Peiratinae (the "pirates", or "corsairs")

Subfamily Phymatinae - Ambush Bugs (formerly Family Phymatidae)

Tribe Phymatini

Subfamily Reduviinae

Subfamily Saicinae
Genera Oncerotrachelus, Pseudosaica, Saica, *Tagalis

Subfamily Stenopodainae

Subfamily Triatominae
Size
5-40 mm
Identification
May be brown, black or brightly colored. Short three-segmented beak used for stabbing prey. Beak folds into groove in prosternum. Head typically constricted behind the eyes, giving a neck-like appearance. Antennae long, thin, not clubbed. Forelegs sometimes swollen or expanded for catching prey.
Key to Florida species in (5)
Range
worldwide and throughout NA, much more diverse in warmer climates.
Food
Most prey on arthropods; Triatominae suck blood(2)
Life Cycle
Incomplete metamorphosis: eggs hatch into tiny nymphs which molt several times as they grow to adulthood.
Remarks
Many species can inflict a painful bite on humans if handled, so it's wise to avoid touching them. If one lands or is seen on your body, brush it or flick it off with a sideways motion. Do not slap or swat it because it will almost certainly bite if you try to crush it.
Print References
Maldonado Capriles, J. (1990) Systematic catalogue of the Reduviidae of the World. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. 694 pp.
Weirauch, C. (2008) Cladistic analysis of Reduviidae (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) based on morphological characters. Systematic Entomology 33: 229-274.
Internet References
(6)