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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae)

Family Reduviidae - Assassin Bugs

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Four Spurred Assassin Bug - Zelus tetracanthus

Ambush Bug - Phymata - Phymata americana

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

see Reduvius

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

Subfamily Emesinae - Thread-legged Bugs

Tribe Emesini

Genera Emesa, Gardena, Phasmatocoris, Stenolemoides, Stenolemus

Tribe Leistarchini

Genus Ploiaria

Tribe Metapterini

Genera Barce, Emesaya, Ghinallelia, Pseudometapterus

Tribe Ploiariolini

Genera *Emesopsis, Empicoris

Subfamily Bactrodinae

Genus Bactrodes

Subfamily Harpactorinae

Tribe Apiomerini (sometimes treated as Subfamily Apiomerinae)

Genus Apiomerus

Tribe Harpactorini

Genera Acholla, Arilus, Atrachelus, Castolus, Doldina, Fitchia, Heza, Pselliopus, Repipta, Rhynocoris, Rocconota, Sinea, Zelus

Subfamily Microtominae

Genera Homalocoris, Microtomus

Subfamily Peiratinae (the "pirates", or "corsairs")

Genera Melanolestes, Rasahus, Sirthenea

Subfamily Phymatinae - Ambush Bugs (formerly Family Phymatidae)

Tribe Macrocephalini

Genera Lophoscutus, Macrocephalus

Tribe Phymatini

Genus Phymata - Jagged Ambush Bugs

Subfamily Reduviinae

Genera Pseudozelurus, Reduvius, Zeluroides

Subfamily Saicinae

Genera Oncerotrachelus, Pseudosaica, Saica, *Tagalis

Subfamily Stenopodainae

Genera Arenaeocoris, Ctenotrachelus, Diaditus, Gnathobleda, Narvesus, Oncocephalus, Pnirontis, Pygolampis, Stenopoda

Subfamily Triatominae

Genera Paratriatoma, Triatoma

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.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Ted Kropiewnicki, drswanny, Nick Block, JohnMaxwell22, ceiseman, v belov
Last updated 9 May, 2021 - 5:25pm

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