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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) » Harpactorinae » Harpactorini » Pselliopus

Genus Pselliopus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Pselliopus sp. - P. cinctus? - Pselliopus cinctus - male

Zebra-Striped Assassin Bug on Green Leaves - Pselliopus zebra

reduviids huddled under dead Quercus stellata bark - Pselliopus barberi

Male, Pselliopus barberi? - Pselliopus sp-near-barberi - male

Ornate adult reduviid - Pselliopus sp. - Pselliopus spinicollis

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 Harpactorinae

Tribe Harpactorini

Genus Pselliopus

Explanation of Names

Pselliopus Bergroth 1905

Greek psellion 'anklet/bracelet' + pous 'foot' (a reference to the banded legs)

Numbers

at least 7 spp. in our area, ~30 total(1)(2)

Size

12-14 mm

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.

Internet References

UNAM. Cinco especies nuevas de Pselliopus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae: Harpactorini) para México

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

2.	Cinco especies nuevas de Pselliopus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae: Harpactorini) para México Brailovsky H., Mariño R., Barrera E. 2007. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 78: 85-98.

3.	Heteroptera of Eastern North America W.S. Blatchley. 1926. The Nature Publishing Company.

4.	Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska Maw, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. NRC Research Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 14 May, 2004 - 2:15pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, v belov, KenW
Last updated 19 October, 2022 - 5:21pm

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