Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae) » Reduviinae

Subfamily Reduviinae

unknown - Reduvius personatus Black bug in my room - Reduvius personatus Found, forgotten for 2-3 months and still alive - Reduvius personatus Reduvius personatus (Masked Hunter) - Reduvius personatus bug - Reduvius Tiny Grit-covered Hemipteran for ID - Reduvius personatus Male, Zeluroides americanus? - Zeluroides americanus - male Male, Zeluroides americanus? - Zeluroides americanus - male
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)
Subfamily Reduviinae
Explanation of Names
Type genus: Reduvius
Numbers
6 spp. in 3 genera north of Mexico (of which 4 Reduvius spp.)(1), ~1000 spp. in ~140 genera worldwide(2)
Size
8-22 mm
Identification
Unfortunately this subfamily is often characterized by what the other subfamilies are not. No quadrate cell in corium, antennals segments not subdivided, transverse constriction at or before middle of pronotum, scutellum not furcate, rostrum arcuate and antennae not distinctly projecting from side of head.
Range
Worldwide; in NA, most spp. in the southwest; the synanthropic Reduvius personatus is transcontinental
Habitat
Some inhabiting deserts of the southwest, others more montane. One species synanthropic. Several genera are known to come to lights at night.
Food
Generalist predators though R. personatus is known for its affinity for cimicids, notably Cimex & Oeciacus spp.
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.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.
Contributed by v belov on 2 March, 2010 - 8:55pm
Additional contributions by drswanny
Last updated 12 April, 2012 - 7:09pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2022 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by: