Invasive-species

Guides

• Zelus renardii

  leaf hopper assassin bug, sundew assassin bug

  Zelus renardii is a medium to large assassin bug native to western North and Central America that has become a successful global invader. The species is diurnal and employs a distinctive predatory strategy using sticky secretions from glandular setae on its forelegs to capture prey, earning it the common name 'sundew assassin bug.' It has been introduced to the Mediterranean basin, Pacific islands, Hawaii, Chile, Argentina, and Easter Island, primarily through human-mediated transport of nursery plants. The species is considered for biological control of agricultural pests but its generalist predatory habits create complex trophic interactions.

  invasive-speciesbiological-controlsticky-trap-predatorgeneralist-predatorintraguild-predationHarpactorinaeNearctic-originMediterranean-expansionurban-adapteragricultural-predatorsemiochemical-communicationalarm-pheromone