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Family Reduviidae - Assassin Bugs

Assassin Bug nymph - Zelus renardii Four Spurred Assassin Bug - Zelus tetracanthus assassin bug - Zelus luridus 20150510-het1 - Melanolestes picipes Ambush Bug - Phymata - Phymata americana Assassin Bug - Rocconota annulicornis Pselliopus - Pselliopus cinctus Reduviidae, lateral - Empicoris errabundus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Cimicomorpha
Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cladistic analysis of the family and status of higher taxa discussed in(1); world fauna catalogued in(2)
Explanation of Names
Reduviidae Latreille 1807
Numbers
195 spp. in 55 genera in 11 subfamilies in our area (Swanson, updated from (3)); second largest heteropteran family, with close to 7,000 spp. in almost 1,000 genera worldwide(4), arranged in 25 subfamilies & 28 tribes(5)(6)
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

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
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.
Keys to species: Alabama(7) • Florida(8) • Virginia(9)
key to suprageneric taxa of the world in (5)
Range
worldwide and throughout NA, much more diverse in warmer climates
Habitat
see(10)
Season
see(10)(11)
Food
Most prey on arthropods; Triatominae suck blood(12)
Life Cycle
Some of the eggs of various Assassins:


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.
Internet References
Reduviidae of Texas (Quinn 2017)
Works Cited
1.Cladistic analysis of Reduviidae (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) based on morphological characters
Weirauch C. 2008. Systematic Entomology 33: 229-274.
2.Systematic catalogue of the Reduviidae of the world (Insecta: Heteroptera)
Maldonado Capriles J. 1990. University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, x+694 pp.
3.Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States
Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers.
4.Biodiversity of the Heteroptera
Henry T.J. 2009. In: Foottit R.G., Adler P.H., eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell: 223-263.
5.An Illustrated Identification Key to Assassin Bug Subfamilies and Tribes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
C. Weirauch, ... 2014. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification .
6.Weirauch C. (2008-2012) About assassin bugs
7.The Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Alabama, with a morphological key to species
Clem C.S., Swanson D.R., Ray C.H. 2019. Zootaxa 4688: 151–198.
8.A Literature-based Key to REDUVIIDAE (Heteroptera) of Florida
9.Assassin Bugs of Virginia (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)
Hoffman R.L. 2006. The Insects of Virginia 15: vi+73 pp.
10.Survey of the Reduviidae (Heteroptera) of southern Illinois, excluding the Phymatinae, with notes on biology
Hagerty A.M., McPherson J.E. 1999. Great Lakes Entomol. 32: 133–160.
11.The assassin bugs of Michigan (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)
McPherson J.E. 1992. The Great Lakes Entomologist 25: 25–31.
12.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.