Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

HemipteraIppatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

In the order Hemiptera (described as “true bugs), is a large cosmopolitan family Reduviidae. At the time of writing, there were recognised 7,000 described species, across more than 20 recognised subfamilies, making it one the largest families in the order Hemiptera.

Most of the members of this family are predatory, except for a few blood-sucking species. Whilst the majority of the subfamilies are known as “assassin bugs”, there are some other recognised common names for individual subfamilies.

• Ambush bugs — subfamily Phymatinae
• Thread-legged bugs — subfamily Emesinae, including the genus Emesaya
• Kissing bugs (or cone-headed bugs) — subfamily Triatominae, unusual in that most species are blood-suckers and several are important disease vectors
• Wheel bugs — genus Arilus, including the common North American species Arilus cristatus
• Grass assassin bugs — genus Lopodytes

Assassin bugs should be handled with caution, if at all, as they defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.

In the following series of photos, an assassin bug genus Pristhesancus (possibly Pristhesancus plagipennis, although there are a number of similar species in the genus) has captured a native Hylaeine bee (in the first two photos, and a honey bee. In the last photo you can see flies on the caught bee (hoping to take advantage of the situation).

With some exception, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable; they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and a formidable curved proboscis (sometimes called a rostrum).

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Gminatus australis

Pristhesancus plagipennis

Assassin bugs go through stages in its life cycle, starting from the ovum or egg, then 5 instar stages of growth, before the final adult stage.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Informal: Pterygotes
• Order: Hemiptera
• Suborder: Heteroptera
• Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
• Superfamily: Reduvioidea
• Family: Reduviidae
• Subfamily:
  • Ectrichodiinae
  • Emesinae
  • Epiroderinae Distant, 1904
  • Harpactorinae Amyot & Serville, 1843
  • Holoptilinae
  • Peiratinae
  • Reduviinae
  • Saicinae
  • Stenopodainae
  • Tegeinae
  • Triatominae
  • Visayanocorinae

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HemipteraIppatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub