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) Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa) Mallotus Harlequin Bug (Cantao parentum) Orange Assassin Bug (Gminatus australis) Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea) Shield Bug (Antestiopsis cederwaldi)

The Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), also commonly known as the Red Assassin Bug is a medium size bug, with strong spiny fore legs. They are orange to red in colour with black wings, with orange-red legs. They also have spines on the head and on pronotum (plate-like structure that covers all or part of the thorax). They are often observed as active fliers, flying between leaves looking for prey.

Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Heteroptera
  • Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
  • Superfamily: Reduvioidea
  • Family: Reduviidae
  • Subfamily: Harpacorinae
  • Genus: Scipinia
  • Species: Scipinia arenacea

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Stefan Jones
  2. Scipinia arenacea Distant, 1903, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Scipinia arenacea

Gold Coast InsectsAntlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) Ants Bees Beetles Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera) Buterflies & Moths Flies (Diptera) Wasps

Gold Coast RegionFauna

QueenslandQueensland Fauna Gold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD