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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae) » Zelus » Leafhopper Assassin Bug (Zelus renardii)
Photo#34265
Assassin? - Zelus renardii
Copyright © 2005 Chuck Entz

Assassin? - Zelus renardii
Encino, Los Angeles County, California, USA
October 9, 2005
Size: 1/2 inch
Found this on lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), eating what appears to be some sort of syrphid.

Very hard getting a good shot due to strong mid-morning light and shadow
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Contributed by Chuck Entz on 10 October, 2005 - 6:39pm
Last updated 15 January, 2007 - 6:33pm

Moved
Moved from Zelus.
… Eric R. Eaton, 29 September, 2006 - 3:57pm login or register to post comments

Yes..
I believe this is a Zelus.

Chcek out these and see what you think...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4403


-Gehan Gehale
… gehan gehale, 10 October, 2005 - 10:09pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree.
I've done lots of research on assassin bugs and agree it is a species of Zelus. They have sticky hairs on the front legs to help them grab their prey (which is in this case a syrphid fly). Update: I believe this is probably Z. renardii, the leafhopper assassin bug, as I see no evidence of spines, as there generally are on the only other common species, Z. tetracanthus.
… Eric R. Eaton, 17 October, 2005 - 5:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
I wonder if the sharply-contrasting bright light and shadows might be obscuring spines. It's odd that I would have two different species that look so similar in my small yard. Stranger things have happened, though.
… Chuck Entz, 29 September, 2006 - 11:37pm login or register to post comments

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