Genus Zelus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Milkw*eed assassin? No. - Zelus renardii

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)

Genus Zelus

Explanation of Names

Author of genus is Fabricius, 1803. From Greco-Roman mythology. Greek Zelos, ζελος, (Latinized to Zelus), was a minor deity and the personification of zeal, rivalry and anger. Quoting from the Wikipedia article:

Zelus was the son of Pallas and Styx. Zelus and siblings Nike (victory), Cratos (strength) and Bia (violence) were winged enforcers who stood in attendance at the throne of Zeus. throne

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 7 North American species in genus.

Identification

Narrow, medium-sized assassin bugs. Compare genus Repipta. Species identification of Z. renardii, Z. cervicalis, and western Z. tetracanthus is not likely to be resolved from images alone.

Range

Slater says about 12 spp. in this genus, most "restricted to southern and southwestern states". (See print references.)

Print References

Arnett, p. 266 (1)

Slater, page 124, fig. 226--exsanguinis (2)

Hart, E. R. 1986. Genus Zelus Fabricius in the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 79: 535-548.

Internet References

Key to Florida Assassin Bugs--PDF

Univ. Kentucky Critter Case files

Insects Cedar Creek

North Carolina State Univ. Entomology Collection lists for that state, with number pinned: cervicalis (163), longipes (39), luridus (77), tetracanthus (26).

Works Cited

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

2.	How to Know the True Bugs By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.

Contributed by Cotinis on 27 June, 2004 - 10:55am
Additional contributions by Bug Eric
Last updated 20 July, 2008 - 3:35am

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