Subfamily Peiratinae - Corsairs

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Works Cited

Black Corsair - Melanolestes picipes - male

Western Corsair Bug - Rasahus thoracicus

assassin bug: genus rasahus - Rasahus biguttatus

Which Red Bug Nymph ? - Melanolestes picipes

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)

Subfamily Peiratinae (Corsairs)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

=Piratinae

Explanation of Names

Type genus: Peirates (Old World genus)

Numbers

medium-sized subfamily with 350 spp. in 33 genera worldwide, 70 spp. in 10 genera in the New World(1); 7 spp. in 3 genera north of Mexico(2)

Size

10-25 mm

Identification

Most easily diagnosed by the transverse sulcus being set distinctly behind the middle of the pronotum.

Range

Worldwide; in the New World, restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropica(1); one species transcontinental, others mostly southern

Habitat

Often found on the ground under rocks or at the base of grasses. They are active hunters, preferring to chase and pounce on their prey. Some species are attracted to lights at night.

Food

Many are probably generalist feeders on various different arthropods but it is thought that some Melanolestes have a preference for melolonthine scarabs and Sirthenea prefer mole crickets.

Remarks

Members of this subfamily are known for their notoriously painful bites.

Works Cited

1.	Lentireduvius, a new genus of Peiratinae from Brazil, with a key to the New World genera (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) By W. Cai & S. J. Taylor

2.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

Contributed by v belov on 2 March, 2010 - 9:16pm
Additional contributions by drswanny
Last updated 18 April, 2010 - 5:43pm

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