Explanation of Names
Greek psellion 'anklet/bracelet' + pous 'foot' (a reference to the banded legs)
Numbers
at least 7 spp. in our area, ~30 total
(1)(2)Identification
Adults are orange and boldly striped, as are some other juvenile assassin bugs. Distinctive as an adult: brown or orange with banded legs, head, and front of thorax. Edges of abdomen also banded.
a key to eastern spp.
(3):
a. Disks of both front and hind lobes of pronotum smooth, unarmed; tibiae annulate throughout their length.
b. Basal margin of pronotum within the wide notch in front of scutellum bisinuate; short black spine of humeral angles of pronotum projected slightly beyond the angle and directed backwards; general color dull orange-yellow, more or less tinged with fuscous....
cinctus
bb. Basal margin of pronotum in front of scutellum truncate or straight across ; short black spine of humeral angles not projected beyond the angle and directed outwards; general color a bright orange-yellow....
barberi
aa. Front lobe of pronotum setose and beset with 10—12 distinct obtuse tubercles; hind lobe with numerous small setose tubercles or granules; tibiae annulate only toward base.... latifasciatus
Stephen Cresswell put together a great page here:
http://www.americaninsects.net/ht/pselliopus-barberi-vs-cinctus.html (appears to be missing or inaccessible; archived version
here)
Range
so. Canada to Argentina, most diverse in Mexico
(2); in our area, 3 spp. are eastern:
P. cinctus and
P. barberi widespread in e. US,
P. latifasciatus se. US (MD-FL to MI-CO-TX) and 4 are western (mostly sw. US, with
P. spinicollis ranging into BC
(4))
Habitat
Meadows, fields; typically on flowers
Life Cycle
Adults hibernate under rocks, bark, sometimes in groups[cite:381563]
Remarks
Some species, such as Pselliopus barberi, have bright coloring and relatively large size. Some species are possible biological pest controls.