Assassin-bug
Guides
Acholla
Autumn Assassins
Acholla is a genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) in the tribe Harpactorini. Adults are most conspicuous in autumn, though they can be found from July onward in some regions. The genus contains three recognized species: A. multispinosa (widespread in eastern and central North America), A. ampliata (western North America), and A. tabida (California and Mexico). These predatory true bugs are primarily arboreal and associated with woodlands and orchards.
Acholla ampliata
Acholla ampliata is an arboreal assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, distributed across western North America from California to Colorado and south to Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Adults are most active in autumn, though they can be found from July onward. The species is distinguished from similar assassin bugs by its relatively smooth body lacking prominent leg spines. It preys on caterpillars and other insects associated with trees, including pest species such as the Codling Moth.
Acholla multispinosa
Acholla multispinosa is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is the most widespread species in its genus, occurring across eastern North America from New England south through the Appalachians to Tennessee and North Carolina, and west through the Great Lakes region to Kansas, Nebraska, and southeast Iowa. Adults are most conspicuous in autumn, though they can be found beginning in July. The species is arboreal, primarily inhabiting woodlands and orchards.
Apiomerus
Bee Assassins, Bee Assassin Bugs
Apiomerus is a genus of brightly colored, conspicuous assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as bee assassins. The genus contains approximately 110 described species and represents the largest clade within the monophyletic tribe Apiomerini. Members are characterized by their use of plant resin as 'sticky traps' to capture prey, a trait unique among assassin bugs. Females possess specialized tibial combs for resin collection and application onto egg masses, providing maternal care. The genus exhibits significant sexual dimorphism and extreme diversity in genital morphology, hypothesized to result from sexual selection driving speciation.
Apiomerus californicus
California Bee Assassin
Apiomerus californicus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Berniker and Szerlip in 2011. It belongs to the Apiomerini tribe, commonly known as bee assassins, which are specialized predators of bees and other pollinators. The species is found in western North America, particularly in California and surrounding regions.
Apiomerus cazieri
Desert Bee Assassin
Apiomerus cazieri is a species of assassin bug (family Reduviidae) endemic to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species was described in 2011 and is commonly known as the Desert Bee Assassin. It is an active predator with documented prey including the checkered beetle Trichodes ornatus and honey bees (Apis mellifera). The species belongs to the genus Apiomerus, whose members are frequently observed hunting on flowers where they ambush pollinators.
Apiomerus flaviventris
Yellow-bellied Bee Assassin, bee assassin bug
Apiomerus flaviventris is a predatory assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as the yellow-bellied bee assassin. This species is notable for its specialized feeding habits targeting bees and its remarkable use of plant-derived chemical defenses. Females collect resin from brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and apply it to their eggs as a protective barrier against predation, particularly by ants. The species inhabits arid and semiarid regions of southwestern North America.
Apiomerus immundus
Apiomerus immundus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, described by Bergroth in 1898. The genus Apiomerus, commonly known as "bee assassins" or "bee killers," comprises exclusively New World species that are ambush predators. Most Apiomerus species are characterized by their habit of perching on flowers to capture visiting bees and other insects. The specific epithet "immundus" (Latin for "unclean" or "dirty") may allude to the debris-accumulating behavior observed in related species.
Apiomerus longispinis
Black Bee Assassin
Apiomerus longispinis is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Apiomerus montanus
Mountain Bee Assassin
Apiomerus montanus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as the Mountain Bee Assassin. It belongs to a genus of exclusively New World predatory insects often called 'bee killers' for their habit of ambushing flower-visiting insects. The species was formally described in 2011 during a revision of the crassipes and pictipes species groups of Apiomerus. Like other members of its genus, it is an ambush predator that captures prey using its raptorial forelegs and subdues them with a venomous proboscis.
Apiomerus spissipes
Plains Bee Assassin
Apiomerus spissipes is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as the Plains Bee Assassin. It ranges broadly across the Great Plains of North America and is replaced further east by the closely related but generally darker A. crassipes. The species is known for its habit of ambushing pollinators on flowers, particularly bees, though it will prey on other insects as well. Its coloration has been observed to include pale ventral surfaces with black front and hind margins.
Arilus cristatus
North American wheel bug, wheel bug
Arilus cristatus, the North American wheel bug, is a large assassin bug distinguished by a semicircular, wheel-shaped pronotal crest. Adults reach up to 38 mm in length and are gray to brownish-gray, while nymphs are bright red and black without the characteristic wheel structure. The species is a generalist predator that employs raptorial front legs and a powerful proboscis to subdue and liquefy prey. It is valued as a biological control agent but possesses a defensive bite to humans that is notably painful and prolonged.
Atrachelus cinereus
Atrachelus cinereus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It has a broad distribution spanning Central America, North America, and South America. The species was described by Fabricius in 1798, with the nominate subspecies Atrachelus cinereus cinereus. A second subspecies, Atrachelus cinereus wygodzinskyi (also spelled wygoszinskyi), was described by Elkins in 1954. Like other assassin bugs, it is presumed to be a predatory insect, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Atrachelus cinereus cinereus
Atrachelus cinereus cinereus is a subspecies of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Fabricius in 1798. It belongs to the subfamily Harpactorinae, a diverse group of predatory true bugs. The genus Atrachelus is part of the Harpactorini tribe, which contains numerous species distributed across the Americas. This subspecies has a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean.
Barce fraterna
Barce fraterna is a thread-legged bug (subfamily Emesinae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America, including the Galápagos Islands. Three subspecies are recognized: B. f. annulipes, B. f. banksii, and the nominate B. f. fraterna. Like other emesines, it possesses the characteristic elongated, slender legs adapted for predation on other arthropods.
Barce werneri
Barce werneri is a species of thread-legged bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) described by Wygodzinsky in 1966. It belongs to the tribe Metapterini within the subfamily Emesinae, a group characterized by their slender, elongate bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for predation. The species has been recorded from North America, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain limited.
Ctenotrachelus shermani
Ctenotrachelus shermani is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Stenopodainae. It is a predatory true bug found across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, North America, and South America. The species was described by Barber in 1929. Observations suggest it is established and active in tropical and subtropical regions.
Diaditus pictipes
Diaditus pictipes is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Champion in 1898. It belongs to the subfamily Stenopodainae, a group of predatory true bugs characterized by raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species has been recorded from the Caribbean, Central America, and North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Doldina interjungens
Doldina interjungens is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Bergroth in 1913. It belongs to the subfamily Harpactorinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within the assassin bugs. The species is recorded from Central America and North America.
Emesa
thread-legged bugs
Emesa is a small genus of thread-legged bugs (subfamily Emesinae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The genus was established by Fabricius in 1803 and contains only four described species. Members of this genus share the characteristic elongated, slender bodies and extremely long legs typical of Emesinae.
Emesaya
Emesaya is a genus of thread-legged assassin bugs (Reduviidae: Emesinae) described by McAtee & Malloch in 1925. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated, slender bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for predation. The genus includes at least one well-studied species, Emesaya brevipennis, for which life history data has been documented through laboratory rearing.
Emesaya brevipennis
thread-legged bug
Emesaya brevipennis is a thread-legged assassin bug in the subfamily Emesinae, distributed across the New World from North America through Central America to South America. The species comprises three subspecies, all occurring in North America north of Mexico. The nominate subspecies E. b. brevipennis is the most widely distributed and has been documented as bivoltine in southern Illinois, with five instars. This species exhibits specialized predatory behavior, including kleptoparasitism of spider prey and intraguild predation on conspecifics.
Emesopsis
Emesopsis is a genus of small tropical assassin bugs (family Reduviidae, subfamily Emesinae) containing at least 22 described species. Most species are restricted to tropical Asia and Australia, with E. nubila being the only pantropical species, also occurring in southern Europe. These bugs are characterized by their unusual locomotion using middle and hind legs while the raptorial front legs are reserved for prey capture. They are generalist predators of various small insects.
Empicoris
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged assassin bugs in the subfamily Emesinae. These predatory true bugs are characterized by their elongated, slender legs and cryptic appearance. The genus contains at least 18 described species distributed worldwide. Empicoris species are nocturnal predators that frequent lights at night, likely hunting smaller insects attracted to artificial illumination.
Empicoris culiciformis
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris culiciformis is a predatory true bug in the family Reduviidae, characterized by its delicate build and raptorial forelegs. The species has a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, the Palearctic, North Africa, and North America. It is rarely encountered due to its cryptic lifestyle in concealed habitats.
Empicoris errabundus
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris errabundus is a thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Members of this genus are small, slender predatory insects that have been observed at ultraviolet light sources, likely hunting smaller insects attracted to the light.
Empicoris orthoneuron
thread-legged bug
Empicoris orthoneuron is a thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, characterized by its elongated, slender body form adapted for predation. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning Central America, North America, and South America. It is one of many small, nocturnal predatory insects attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Empicoris errabundus in some taxonomic databases.
Empicoris pilosus
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris pilosus is a thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, characterized by its extremely slender, elongated legs adapted for capturing prey on vegetation. The species has been recorded in both Europe and North America, though specific details about its biology remain sparse. It belongs to a group of reduviids known for their specialized predatory habits on small insects.
Empicoris rubromaculatus
Thread Bug
Empicoris rubromaculatus is a thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as the thread bug. It is characterized by its elongated, slender body and exceptionally long, thread-like legs. The species has been documented in North America and Oceania, with distribution records from the Azores islands including Faial, Flores, Pico, São Miguel, and Santa Maria. It has been observed at ultraviolet light sources, suggesting nocturnal activity.
Empicoris subparallelus
thread-legged assassin bug
Empicoris subparallelus is a species of thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It was first described in 1925 by McAtee and Malloch. The species is known from Cuba and the southern United States (Florida and Texas). In Florida, it was first documented in 2007 from light traps used for mosquito surveillance in the Florida Keys. It has been proposed as a potential biocontrol agent for mosquitoes, though direct predation on mosquitoes has not been confirmed.
Empicoris winnemana
thread-legged bug
Empicoris winnemana is a species of thread-legged assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, described by McAtee & Malloch in 1925. It is native to North America. Like other members of the genus Empicoris, it is characterized by exceptionally slender, elongated legs adapted for predation on small insects. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited observational records.
Fitchia spinosula
Fitchia spinosula is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Carl Stål in 1872. It belongs to the subfamily Harpactorinae, a diverse group of predatory true bugs. The species is known from North America, with records primarily from the western Nearctic region. Like other reduviids, it is presumed to be predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Gardena
thread-legged bug
Gardena is a genus of thread-legged assassin bugs in the subfamily Emesinae, tribe Emesini. It is the second-largest genus in its tribe, with 46 described species. Members of this genus are characterized by their elongated, slender bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The genus was established by Dohrn in 1859.
Ghinallelia productilis
Ghinallelia productilis is a thread-legged bug in the assassin bug family Reduviidae, first described by Barber in 1914. The species belongs to the subfamily Emesinae, a group characterized by slender, elongated bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for predation. It has been documented in the Caribbean and North America. Like other emesine reduviids, it likely occupies vegetation where it hunts small arthropod prey.
Gnathobleda
Gnathobleda is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Stenopodainae. It was established by Stål in 1859 and contains at least four described species distributed in the Neotropical region. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features typical of the Stenopodainae, a subfamily known for slender-bodied predatory bugs. Species within this genus have been documented from South America, including Argentina.
Harpactorini
Harpactorini is the most diverse tribe within the assassin bug family Reduviidae, containing 289 genera and approximately 2000 species globally. The tribe is distinguished by several genera exhibiting exaggerated pronotal modifications, including the wheel-shaped pronotum of Arilus and the strongly raised, divided posterior pronotal lobe in Ulpius. Many species engage in wasp mimicry, resembling Hymenoptera through body shape, coloration, and wing patterns. Sexual dimorphism is common, with differences in size, body configuration, eye size, and antennal structure between males and females.
Heza similis
Heza similis is a species of assassin bug described by Carl Stål in 1859. It belongs to the family Reduviidae, a diverse group of predatory true bugs. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily, it likely exhibits the typical assassin bug predatory lifestyle, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Leptoglossus
leaf-footed bugs
Leptoglossus is a genus of true bugs in the leaf-footed bug family Coreidae, tribe Anisoscelini. Species are characterized by leaflike dilations of the hind tibia, a diagnostic trait of the genus. The genus is distributed throughout the Americas, with some introduced populations in Europe and Asia. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably L. occidentalis, which has become invasive in multiple continents.
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nchanmoss-bugarchaeorrhynchanfulgoromorphancicadomorphanmembracoidtreehopperleafhopperplanthopperpsyllidjumping-plant-lousewhiteflyaleyrodidscale-insectcoccoidmealybugaphidadelgidphylloxeransternorrhynchanthysanopteranthripspsocopteranbarklousebooklousephthirapteranlousesucking-lousechewing-lousemallophagananoplurandermapteranearwigblattodeancockroachtermiteisopteranmantodeanmantidphasmidstick-insectleaf-insectorthopterangrasshopperlocustkatydidcricketmole-cricketpygmy-mole-cricketcamel-cricketcave-cricketwetaensiferancaeliferangryllotalpidmyrmecophilidtettigoniidgryllidacrididpamphagidpneumoridlentulidtristirideumastacidproscopiidtridactylidtetrigidgrouse-locustpygmy-grasshopperplecopteranstoneflyembiopteranwebspinnerzorapteranangel-insectdictyopteranLophoscutus
Lophoscutus is a genus of ambush bugs (subfamily Phymatinae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. Established by Kormilev in 1951, the genus contains over 60 described species. Members of this genus are predatory true bugs that employ ambush hunting strategies.
Lophoscutus uhleri
Lophoscutus uhleri is a species of ambush bug in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Phymatinae. The species was described by Handlirsch in 1897. Phymatine reduviids are predatory true bugs characterized by their raptorial forelegs used to capture prey. Members of the genus Lophoscutus are known from North America.
Melanolestes picipes
Black Corsair, Black May Beetle-Eater
Melanolestes picipes, commonly called the Black Corsair, is a predatory assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are fully winged and strong fliers, while females typically have reduced or absent hind wings and merely pad-like forewings. Adults measure 15–20 mm in body length. Northern populations are uniformly jet black; southern specimens may display red or orange abdominal margins or entirely red abdomens. The species is among the most abundant assassin bugs in the United States and is frequently attracted to outdoor lights at night.
Microtomus luctuosus
Tamaulipan White-winged Assassin
Microtomus luctuosus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, native to the Americas. It belongs to the subfamily Hammacerinae, which includes species commonly known as bark assassin bugs. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with woodland habitats and cryptic microhabitats such as beneath bark. The specific epithet 'luctuosus' (Latin for 'mournful' or 'sorrowful') may refer to its coloration.
Microtomus purcis
Eastern White-winged Assassin, bark assassin bug
Microtomus purcis is a strikingly colored assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, found in North America. The species is notable for its aposematic coloration—black body with creamy-white wing bases and bright red abdominal segments and hind legs. Despite its conspicuous appearance, it is primarily nocturnal and spends daylight hours concealed under loose bark of dead trees. The species has been documented from the Ozark Highlands and surrounding regions, with adult activity recorded from September through March and nymphs found in late autumn.
Narvesus
Narvesus is a Neotropical genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) established by Stål in 1859. The genus contains two described species: Narvesus carolinensis and Narvesus minor. These predatory true bugs are characterized by morphological features typical of the subfamily Stenopodainae, including raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision with updated descriptions, illustrations, and male genitalia data.
Oncerotrachelus acuminatus
Oncerotrachelus acuminatus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1832 under the name Reduvius acuminatus. As a member of the subfamily Saicinae, it belongs to a group of reduviid bugs characterized by particular morphological and ecological traits, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Oncerotrachelus pallidus
Oncerotrachelus pallidus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Barber in 1922. It belongs to the subfamily Saicinae, a group of thread-legged assassin bugs characterized by their slender, elongated bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for predation. The species is known from North America, though specific details regarding its biology, ecology, and distribution within this range remain poorly documented in available literature.
Oncocephalus
Oncocephalus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. The genus contains at least 210 described species, making it one of the more species-rich genera within the family. Species in this genus are predatory true bugs found across multiple continents.
Oncocephalus geniculatus
Oncocephalus geniculatus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Stål in 1872. It belongs to the subfamily Stenopodainae, a group characterized by raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species has been documented across Central America and North America. It is among the more frequently observed Oncocephalus species, with over 600 citizen science records.
Oncocephalus nubilus
Oncocephalus nubilus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1914. It belongs to the subfamily Stenopodainae, a group of reduviids commonly known as thread-legged or spiny assassin bugs. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Opisthacidius mexicanus
Opisthacidius mexicanus is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Reduviinae. It was described by Peláez in 1942 and is native to Mexico and Middle America. As a member of the Reduviidae, it is presumed to be a predatory insect, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.