Peiratinae

Amyot & Serville, 1843

corsairs, corsair bugs

Genus Guides

Melanolestes(Black Corsair (M. picipes))
Rasahus
Sirthenea(corsairs)

Peiratinae is a of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) commonly known as corsairs. The subfamily has a worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Approximately 30 and 350 are described, though estimates vary. Members of this subfamily are predatory true bugs. The genus Sirthenea is notable for its distribution across all continents.

Rasahus biguttatus by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.

Melanolestes picipes by (c) Cecil Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cecil Smith. Used under a CC-BY license.

Melanolestes picipes by (c) jimeckert49, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Peiratinae: /ˌpaɪˈrætɪniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution, concentrated in tropical areas. The Peirates (sensu stricto) is mainly distributed in the Oriental, Palearctic, and Ethiopian regions. The genus Sirthenea occurs on all continents. The genus Melanolestes is found from New England to Florida and west to Colorado, Utah, and California in North America.

Human Relevance

Some , such as Melanolestes picipes (Black Corsair), are attracted to outdoor lights at night and may enter human dwellings. Defensive bites from peiratine assassin bugs have been reported as extremely painful, though they do not transmit . The Black Corsair was involved in the 1899 "kissing bug scare" in the eastern United States due to sensationalized newspaper reporting, though it is not a of .

Similar Taxa

ReduviinaeBoth are of Reduviidae; Peiratinae can be distinguished by the presence of fossula spongiosa (dense hair pads) on the tibiae of the first and second pairs of legs, which Reduviinae lack.
Sphodromantis spp. (Masked Hunter, Reduvius personatus) of Melanolestes picipes and Reduvius personatus are frequently confused; Masked Hunter adults are usually slightly larger and lack the distinctive inflated fossula spongiosa on the tibiae present in Peiratinae.

Misconceptions

Peiratinae are often mistaken for kissing bugs (Triatominae) due to their similar appearance and painful defensive bites. However, peiratines are not of and do not transmit . The 1899 "kissing bug scare" in the eastern United States was fueled by misidentification of the Black Corsair (Melanolestes picipes) as a -vectoring species.