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May 4, 2019 · Assassin, a.k.a. kissing bugs, are found all across the bottom two-thirds of the United States, and predominantly in Arizona, California, Texas, and New Mexico. Once only found in tropical regions further south, climate change and global warming have since pushed them further north.
- What Are Assassin Bugs?
- What Do Assassin Bugs Look like?
- Types of Assassin Bugs
- Kissing Bug vs Assassin Bug: Are They The same?
- Where Do They Live?
- What Do They Eat?
- What Is The Lifecycle of Assassin Bugs?
- Where Do They Lay Eggs?
- Do They Bite Or Sting?
- Are They Poisonous Or Venomous?
Reduviidae family, under the order Hemiptera, is commonly known as Assassin bugs. They are true bugs, and the family comprises a large number of assassin bug species that may vary in appearance but have similar habits. Assassin bugs earn their name from their hunting technique – they stab their prey with their sharp beaks. While they are primarily ...
Generally speaking, assassin bugs have flat and elongated bodies, narrow heads, and joint antennae. Most of them are winged insects, with the wings forming an X pattern on their backs. The claw-like beak has three grooves that allow them to fold it underneath their bodies. However, various species of assassin bugs can look very different from each ...
1. North American Wheel Bug
Wheel bugs are a group of assassin bugs named after the spinny wheel-like ridge on their back. However, the only wheel bug you can find in the US is the North American wheel bug, which also happens to be one of the largest bugs in the country. Growing up to 1.6 inches, these bugs have a robust structure and are usually a shade of grayish or brownish-black. Be careful when handling a North American wheel bug – it has a nasty bite that can hurt more than a bee sting!
2. Milkweed Assassin Bug
This is another common assassin bug species in the US, especially in the Southern states. Unlike what one might assume, the milkweed assassin bug isn’t called so because it sticks around milkweed plants. Rather, they closely resemble milkweed bugs and have a similar color – hence the name. You can find them in agricultural fields, around a variety of crops where they prey on herbivorous pests. Milkweed assassin bugs are particularly known to hunt fall armyworm grey worms in the Southern part...
3. Orange Assassin Bug
The orange assassin bug is hard to miss, thanks to its beautiful and distinct appearance. As its name indicates, this assassin bug is characterized by a mostly orange body. Contrasting the bright orange background, there’s a pattern of black lines across its body and its legs have orange stripes. In some parts of North America, these bugs may appear to be amber rather than orange. They prey on a diverse range of insects and usually conceal themselves on the bark of trees.
You may have come across assassin bugs being mentioned as kissing bugs and wondered if they’re the same species. Well, while kissing bugs are a type of assassin bugstoo, not all species of assassin bugs are kissing bugs. Only a certain group of bloodsucking assassin bugs that sometimes attack humans are known as kissing bugs. They’ve earned this na...
While assassin bugs are now very common in North America, this wasn’t always the case. Global warming has forced these bugs to spread far and wide from their native lands. You can now find these bugs in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Southern two-thirds of the US. With so many species of assassin bugs out there, it’s not very surprising...
Assassin bugs thrive on other insects, especially various herbivorous pests that one would find around vegetation. They often kill prey larger than themselves, thanks to their hunting abilities. Assassin bugs usually kill their prey by stabbing them with their sharp mouthparts. These straw-like mouthparts are more suited for sucking rather than bit...
The life cycle of an assassin bug isn’t very different from that of other insects. Like the rest, assassin bugs go through the same stages too – eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. 1. Eggs: Assassin bugs reproduce rapidly, laying up to 300 eggs. They lay the eggs in batches of 30 to 60, known as rafts or bundles. It takes these eggs about 2 weeks to h...
Assassin bugs lay their eggs on leaves and stems. Their eggs are barrel-shaped and are usually laid upright in large clusters. Be careful when treating your plants with insecticidal sprays, as you might unintentionally destroy the eggs of these beneficial bugs.
While assassin bugs do not sting, they can deliver a powerful bite that hurts more than a bee sting. Most of them bite humans only in self-defense and don’t pose a threat unless handled. However, the ones grouped as kissing bugs deliberately bite humans to suck blood. The level of pain varies with the species, and those bitten can sometimes experie...
Assassin bugs produce two venoms – one to defend themselves against predators and the other to paralyze and liquefy their prey for consumption. Both these venoms contain more than 100different toxins. Although the disulfide-rich peptide neurotoxin-rich liquifying venom is lethal against other insects, they aren’t dangerous to humans.
May 27, 2020 · According to the Maryland Home and Garden Information Center, there are over 160 species of assassin bugs in North America, most of which survive the winter as adults in sheltered locations. All species of assassin bugs (family Reduviidae) are general predators that attack anything that comes across their path.
Jan 18, 2024 · Egg-laying female assassin bugs are much larger than males and nymphs (juveniles) are smaller versions of their wingless adult counterparts. Where Do Assassin Bugs Live? Of the more than 7,000 assassin bug species worldwide, more than 160 of them live in North America alone.
- Toni Debella
Oct 25, 2022 · There are nearly 3000 species of assassin bugs, and approximately 5% of them live in North America. These terrestrial ambush predators lie in wait for their kill—other insects—and some even drink mammal blood like mini vampires. Assassin bugs are common, but they're usually found in low numbers in backyards.
Nov 4, 2024 · Assassin bugs (also known as ambush bugs or thread-legged bugs) are one of nature's stealthiest hunters, known for their precision strikes and ability to subdue prey with incredible efficiency. The assassin bug belongs to the Reduviidae family, a large and diverse group of insects that includes over 7,000 species of assassin bugs found all over the world.
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One hundred sixty-eight new state records are presented for 51 species of assassin bugs found in the United States; distributional and taxonomic notes supplement the records. The current known distribution north of Mexico is provided for each species.
