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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 » Zelus » Zelus tetracanthus » nymphs (Zelus tetracanthus nymphs)
Photo#468240
Assasin nymph - Zelus tetracanthus
Copyright © 2010 Robert Douglas

Assasin nymph - Zelus tetracanthus
Elk, Mendocino County, California, USA
October 27, 2010
Size: 12 mm
This little insect was found under the wing of a saw-whet owl, which we were banding. It wasn't clear whether it was living on the owl or just got caught up in its feathers when the owl stooped on prey. It was a very slow and clingy in its movements.
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Contributed by Hayley Ross on 27 October, 2010 - 6:57pm
Last updated 27 August, 2022 - 11:58am

Moved
Moved from Zelus tetracanthus.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 27 August, 2022 - 11:58am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… drswanny, 28 October, 2010 - 3:27pm login or register to post comments

Hm...
How unusual! I suppose maybe as the owl was making it's way around the forest, perhaps this little one fell upon it? I would imagine the lovely buffeted feathers would be a difficult place to free itself from. I have them fall on me all the time!

Maybe it is feeding upon parasites on the owl? I am sure the owl would appreciate having them destroyed.

This is very fascinating! Seeing our Saw-Whets, Barred and Screech Owls fly through the forest makes me believe that in their expert flying, they may bump a leaf or two. Such a slow moving Assassin nymph might have a hard time freeing itself from it. Who knows! I would watch for this on more birds. Heck, you could always email this observation to other Ornithological and Raptor centers and groups!
… Cassie Novak, 28 October, 2010 - 10:37am login or register to post comments

Assassin Bug nymph?
I'm merely an amateur, however I believe it might be a nymph of an Assassin Bug. The only members of this family that I know live off vertebrates are the bloodsuckers of the genus Triatoma; however those creatures don't look like this. Thus, I don't know why it would have been clinging to an owl.

For more information, see here.
… Peter Edelman, 27 October, 2010 - 7:28pm login or register to post comments

Assassin Bug nymph
Maybe Zelus:



An incidental capture, I'll wager.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 27 October, 2010 - 7:23pm login or register to post comments

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