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Real suckers
- All bugs bite one thing or another, but almost all predatory bugs live in the water, which makes assassin bugs unusual still. As bugs, these are real suckers.
factanimal.com/assassin-bug/
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.
- Assassin Bug Profile
- Interesting Assassin Bug Facts
- Assassin Bug Fact-File Summary
The word “bug” gets thrown around with reckless abandon in the non-entomology world, but it does have a true meaning in zoology: a true bug is from the order Hemiptera and is characterised by its piercing mouthparts and often shield-shaped body. Most bugs are plant suckers like aphids, but some feed on blood, such as bedbugs. Then there’s the famil...
1. They’re biters
All bugs bite one thing or another, but almost all predatory bugs live in the water, which makes assassin bugs unusual still. As bugs, these are real suckers. A long, rigid proboscis hides under the insect’s head, ready to unfold and impale unsuspecting prey. In most cases, this is a caterpillar or a small beetle, but sometimes it’s the young of a rival species!
2. Their proboscis is sheathed
Once they’re done slaughtering their enemies, that formidable piercing lance returns to its folded position, like a flick knife, under the head of the bug. It’s protected by a stiff sheath that not only keeps it sharp but also helps it talk.
3. They can use it to sing
Assassin bugs are capable of stridulation. This is a form of noise-based communication that can be accomplished by rubbing two stiff bits of insect together. Crickets, cicadas, and even longhorn beetles make sound this way, and as it happens, so do assassin bugs. While most insects use stridulation as a loving call to a potential mate, this would be uncharacteristic of a warrior race like the assassin bugs; instead, it seems to be primarily a defence sound and is thought to occur as a result...
Scientific Classification
1. “The Wheel Bug”, College of Agriculture Food and Environment. 2. Andrew A. Walker, “Melt With This Kiss: Paralyzing and Liquefying Venom of The Assassin Bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)”, Science Direct. 3. “Parasites – American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease)”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4. John H. Klotz (2010), “Kissing Bugs”: Potential Disease Vectors and Cause of Anaphylaxis”, Oxford Academic. 5. “Feather-legged assassin bug”, Pictur...
- Grasslands, forests and more
- Worldwide
- 6-10 months
- Up to about 3.3cm (1.5 inch)
There are more than 160 species in the family Reduviidae (the assassin bugs, ambush bugs, and thread-legged bugs) in North America, many of which are fairly common. Most assassin bugs are medium-sized to large predators of crop pests, but the family does contain a few blood-sucking species.
- North American Wheel Bug. The North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) is one of the largest species of bugs in the US as it grows to an average of 1.6 inches.
- Pale Green Assassin Bug. This type of assassin bug (Zelus luridus) is known for its green think body. Pale Green Assassin bugs don’t have wings but they know how to hunt.
- Milkweed Assassin Bug. The Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes) is common in the US, particularly in Southern states. They are identified by a short 18mm body with orange-black or brown-black coloring and black legs.
- Leafhopper Assassin Bug. Leafhopper Assassin Bugs (Zelus renardii) are identified by their green and brown body color. These bugs are common in agricultural fields where they’re beneficial as they eat many infesting insects.
Apr 16, 2024 · While they are primarily insectivores, a group of assassin bugs is also known to suck the blood of animals and even humans. It’s these assassin bugs that you need to be wary of – the rest are mostly harmless to humans. What Do Assassin Bugs Look Like?
The eastern bloodsucking conenose, Triatoma sanguisuga (LeConte), belongs to the subfamily Triatominae, known as the kissing bugs. Kissing bugs are members of a larger group known as assassin bugs. Assassin bugs are named for their habit of attacking and voraciously feeding on insects with their piercing-sucking mouthparts.
People also ask
Are assassin bugs suckers?
Are assassin bugs predators?
Do assassin bugs eat humans?
Are assassin bugs common in North America?
Are assassin bugs carnivorous or ectoparasites?
Do assassin bugs bite humans?
May 27, 2024 · Assassin bugs come into two different types: the carnivorous ambush predators and the blood-sucking ectoparasites. The former insects, which represent the greatest number of species, will pierce their prey with a beak and suck out the body fluids.
