Spined Assassin Bug - Sinea diadema

quoting from key..., looks like Sinea diadema

Quoting from a key to Florida Assassin Bugs, if you are in the right genus (I'm no expert!), there are two, maybe three (?) possibilities:

4. Anterior pronotal lobe with sharp spines--->.Sinea diadema Fabricius (figs.12,13)

4a. First pair of anteocular spines usually twice as long as third
pair --->Sinea sanguisuga Stål (figs.14,15)

4b. Anterior protnotal lobe with medium sized blunt spines. Brown golden hue with many fine short hairs---> Heza similis Stål.

OK, I'm not sure exactly which spines they are talking about here. Seems like it is a Sinea. I see spines in front of the eyes (anteocular?) and they look to be the same size, so I guess it's S. diadema. Any comments from anybody else?

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 7 July, 2004 - 4:59pm

Anteocular...

I know "ocular" has to do with eyes...right?

There is a diagram on the PDF file showing a very long spine right above the eye and one above the "nose". The photo only seems to have the longest spines over the eyes, which led me to think it was not Sinea sanguisuga...

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 7 July, 2004 - 6:18pm

yes, I agree, S. diadema

Yes, I agree (for what that's worth). I think your critter is S. diadema, as you do. I'm not familiar with this genus, however. Reasoning seems correct.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 7 July, 2004 - 9:56pm