Gold Coast Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera)Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis) Common Milkweed Bug (Arocatus rusticus) Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus) Green Jewel Bug (Lampromicra senator) Green-faced Wattle Hopper (Hackerobrachys viridiventris) Mallotus Harlequin Bug (Cantao parentum) Orange Assassin Bug (Gminatus australis) Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea) Shield Bug (Antestiopsis cederwaldi)
Commonly known as the Assassin Bug, the species Pristhesancus plagipennis is in the family Reduviidae, and part of group of Australian assassin bugs with more than 300 species. All members of this group are predators of other invertebrates, having the elongated heads and a thick curved rostrum (the piercing mouth parts found in the order Hemiptera).
Among the many prey of the Assassin Bug, are the common garden pest, including the stinkbug Musgraveia sulciventris (the Bronze Orange Bug) that are a pest to citrus plants. The Assassin Bug also prey on the honey bees (hence their other common name of the Bee-killer Assassin Bug).
The juveniles (nymphs / instars) form of the Assassin Bug have distinctive bright orange abdomen.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Heteroptera
- Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
- Superfamily: Reduvioidea
- Family: Reduviidae
- Subfamily: Harpactorinae
- Genus: Pristhesancus
- Species: Pristhesancus plagipennis
Footnote & References
- Photographs © Stefan Jones
- Pristhesancus plagipennis Walker, 1873, Assassin Bug, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/82a373d0-60f4-4f62-afac-87a9478bd143
Gold Coast InsectsAntlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) Ants Bees Beetles Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera) Buterflies & Moths Flies (Diptera) Wasps
QueenslandGold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD