Wheel bug, Arilus cristatus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This shot of a wheel bug gives a view of the crest and red mouthparts, as well as the spiracles (airholes) along the side of the abdomen. (Insects use spiracles to breathe.) Click on the photo to zoom in and see the spiracles.
Photographed and identified by: Jenny Rash. Great identification, Jenny!
Location: Athens, Tennessee, USA.
Date: October, 2018.
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Wheel bug, nymph (immature), Arilus cristatus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This is a great photo of the nymph of the wheel bug. The nymph lacks the distinctive gear-shaped crest of the adults, which are shown elsewhere on this page.
Photographed by: Jeremiah and Caitriona Kane.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: East Bradford, Pennsylvania.
Date: 16 July, 2017.
“My wife, daughter and I were having a lot of fun trying to figure out what it was, so you responding so quickly made our night.” KnowYourInsects.org says, “Louise found it, and her husband Jere and daughter Caitriona snapped the photo. Nice group effort, Kane family!”
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Wheel bug, nymph (immature), Arilus cristatus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The nymph of the wheel bug has a red and grizzled black body. Its antennae are also mainly black, but click on the photo to zoom in and see a red tip and a second small red section about a third of the way along each antenna.
Photographed and identified to family by: Robin Gassaway.
Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Hamilton, Illinois, USA.
Date: 25 June, 2019.
Robin found this nymph in her backyard.
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Wheel bug, nymphs (immatures), Arilus cristatus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ These little wheel bug nymphs have just hatched from the eggs (shown at top). Note the black thorax; bulbous, red abdomen; and orange-tipped antennae on each of these very young, or early instar, nymphs. They will look different as they age.
Photographed by: Gail Outlaw.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: La Grange, North Carolina, USA.
Date: 3 May, 2018.
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Milkweed assassin bug, also known as a long-legged assassin bug, Zelus longipes, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The milkweed assassin bug gets its name not because it frequents milkweed plants, but because its black-and-red pattern looks rather like the pattern seen on small milkweed bugs (Lygaeus kalmii). To view a small milkweed bug, click here (BugGuide).
Photographed and identified to family by: Sheldon L. Boyd. Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: The Villages, Florida, USA.
Date: 8 September, 2019.
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Milkweed assassin bug, also known as a long-legged assassin bug, nymph (immature), Zelus longipes, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This is the nymph (immature) of a milkweed assassin bug. Adults and nymphs of this species can be found on a variety of garden plants, where they prey on pest insects, such as rootworms and other caterpillars, mosquitoes, and cucumber beetles.
Photographed by: Ivan Maldonado. Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Pachuca, Mexico.
Date: 1 August, 2019.
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An assassin bug, nymph (immature), likely a milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Check out the story below behind this assassin bug nymph. The long, curved, needle-like mouthparts (the rostrum) is especially evident in this great closeup photo.
Photographed and identified by: John Obermann.
Location: South-central Georgia, USA.
Date: 8 August, 2020.
John says he was brushing his dog when ... “I had the misfortune of brushing off my dog this morning. It took my brain a second or two to realize that I was being stung in the thumb by what I thought was just a little blossom from a plant or shrub.... What’s odd is the front stinging proboscis, which rivals the length of many wasps.”
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An assassin bug, nymph (immature), likely a milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This young nymph of an assassin bug — likely a milkweed assassin bug — has tiny black wing buds on its back (showing between its pair of middle legs), and a black tip on its long and sharp rostrum.
Photographed and identified by: Marv Goldberg. Nicely done, Marv! Location: Tamarac, Florida, USA. Date: 25 June, 2024.
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□ The family name of the assassin bugs is Reduviidae. It is based on the Latin word reduvia, which translates to a remnant, assumedly referring to the bit of side flair on the abdomen of some assassin bugs. |
Four-spurred assassin bug, Zelus tetracanthus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The species name (tetracanthus) of the four-spurred assassin bug literally means “four spines.” It refers to the four small bumps poking upwards from its pronotum (the plate-like covering over the thorax). Click on the photo to zoom in and see two of the spurs at the back edge of the pronotum.
Photographed by: Thomas Langhans. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
See Thomas’s full-size image here.
Location: city of San Bruno, county of San Mateo, California, USA.
Date: 8 November, 2018.
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Four-spurred assassin bug, Zelus tetracanthus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This photo of the four-spurred assassin bug provides a dorsal view, including the white “V” shape on each hemelytra (the wings covering its back).
Photographed and identified as an assassin bug by: Carlo Castoro. Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Date: 23 August, 2021.
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Sundew assassin bug, Zelus luridus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The sundew assassin bug secretes a sticky substance, called sundew, that helps its front legs grab onto prey. A key characteristic of the sundew assassin bug is the pair of thorn-like projections on the thorax, as shown at right. Note: Although sundew assassin bugs are sometimes called pale green assassin bugs, this species is not always pale green.
Photographed by: Marian Williams.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: near Waco, Carroll County, Georgia, USA.
Date: 27 August, 2017.
Marian says, “I’m sure I’ve seen similar bugs before but never looked so closely. I found him/her to be very interesting.”
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Sundew assassin bug, nymph (immature) , Zelus luridus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This is a nymph (immature) of a sundew assassin bug, and it is exhibiting its predatory behavior — this is why they are called assassin bugs! (See Erik’s comment below.)
Photographed by: Arthur Ferruzzi. Submitted by: Erik Paschke. Identified by KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Michigan.
Date: 26 April, 2018.
Erik says, “This bug was sucking the head of an ant.”
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Sundew assassin bug, also known as a pale green assassin bug, nymph (immature), Zelus luridus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The photographer reports that this sundew assassin bug was about 3/8 inch (about 0.9 cm) in body length, and less than 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) in total length, including the antennae.
Photographed by: Don Leith. Identified by KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Lyon Township, Michigan.
Date: 10 November, 2018.
Don says, “My boys are regularly spotting new creatures and we enjoy the online hunt of identifying and understanding their place in our ecosystem.” KnowYourInsects.org applauds this family effort!
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Leafhopper assassin bug Zelus renardii, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This is an adult leafhopper assassin bug. Originally from western North America and western Central America, this species is highly adaptive to various habitats and climatic conditions and is now found in many parts of the world.
Photographed by: Nicole Burlison. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Medford, Oregon, USA.
Date: 19 April, 2020.
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Leafhopper assassin bug, Zelus renardii, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Nymphs of leafhopper assassin bugs have heavily banded legs; delicate red lines edging the abdomen; and long, banded antennae, as shown.
□ Newly hatched nymphs smear sticky goop from the eggs onto their legs, which helps them grab onto their prey: flies. To learn more, click here (the journal Annals of the Entomological Society of America).
Photographed by: Yanni Petropoulos. Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: mainland of southwest Greece. Date: 22 June, 2022.
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An assassin bug, possibly in the genus Zelus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This elegant-looking assassin bug has extremely long and thin legs and antennae. Click on this excellent photograph to zoom in and see the small points extending up from its thorax.
Photographed by: Abhishek Gawande.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Karad, Aatara, Maharashtra, India.
Date: 29 September, 2018.
Abhishek says, “I captured this photograph near a tube light.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Zelus, possibly a leafhopper assassin bug, Zelus renardii, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Leafhopper assassin bugs catch and eat leafhoppers, and such insects as aphids, thrips and small caterpillars. Gardeners sometimes use them to help control pests.
Photographed by: Yanni Petropoulos. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: mainland of southwest Greece.
Date: 19 April, 2020.
Yanni says, “It kept me company inside the house for three weeks, always hanging by the window curtain.”
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Spiny assassin bug, Sinea spinipes, subfamily Hesperiinae, family Hesperiidae.
□ This species of spiny assassin bug has a row of spines on its head, and many sharp and thin spines on its burly foreleg. Unlike some similar-looking species, however, it has small rounded nubs on its thorax rather than sharp spines.
Photographed and identified by: Victoria Virgona. Location: Long Island, New York, USA. Date: 27 August, 2022.
Victoria says, “These are the prehistoric-looking insects that are so fascinating to watch. So much stealth wrapped in a relatively small package! LOL.” |
Spined assassin bug, Sinea diadema, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The spined assassin bug uses its quite large and spiny front legs to grab prey. In addition, it has a long and thin beak beneath its head. It can swing out the beak like a switchblade to stab prey. To see what it looks like as an adult click here (BugGuide).
Photographed by: Irene Giamella.
Location: Hauppauge, New York, USA.
Date: 23 July, 2019.
Irene spotted this one in her office.
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Spined assassin bug, Sinea diadema, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The photo at left shows the tiny size of this spined assassin bug nymph. Despite its size, it is a predator and uses its long forelegs to snatch prey. The photographer sent a short video showing how it walks: rather like a gorilla, but instead of two long arms and a pair of shorter legs, the spiny assassin bug has two long forelegs, and four shorter legs.
Photographed and identified to order by: Jenny Rash. Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: McMinn County, Tennessee, USA.
Date: 21 June, 2024.
Jenny grabbed a short video of this bug walking. She says, “It’s pretty neat.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Sinea, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This nymph of an assassin bug in the genus Sinea has prominent spines. The adult also has spines, but they are much less pronounced than those on the nymph. The lower photo clearly shows its long spear-like mouthparts, known as a rostrum.
Photographed by: Heather Bond.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Tucker, Georgia, USA.
Date: 30 June, 2017.
Heather says, “It was found in my kitchen on the counter.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Sinea, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
Photographed by: Joey Williams.
Location: Virginia, USA.
Date: 5 August, 2019.
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An assassin bug in the genus Sinea, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The darker area in the center of this spiny assassin bug’s body is a pair of wing buds. Every time it molts as a nymph, its wing buds get larger. It is only when it finally becomes an adult, however, that its wings reach full size and it is able to fly.
Photographed by: Carly Anderson.
Location: Auburn, New York, USA.
Date: 1 August, 2019.
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An assassin bug in the genus Sinea, nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ To see what one of the spiny assassin bug species looks like as an adult, click here (BugGuide).
Photographed and identified by: Alice Speake.
Location: central Alabama, USA.
Date: 24 May, 2019.
Alice describes it as “very small and spiky.”
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Pristhesancus plagipennis (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Pristhesancus plagipennis “produces offensive and defensive venoms in anatomically distinct glands, an evolutionary adaptation that, to our knowledge, has not been described for any other venomous animal,” according to research published in the journal Nature Communications. They will use this venom on their prey: bees. This is why they are sometimes called bee killer assassin bugs.
□ Click on these excellent photos to see the detail.
Photographed by: Peter Rowell.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Coopers Shoot (between Bangalow and Byron Bay), northern New South Wales, Australia.
Date: 15 January, 2017.
Peter says he found it “on a passion fruit vine on the far north coast of NSW.”
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Pristhesancus plagipennis (no specific common name), nymph (immature), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This later-stage (fourth-instar) nymph of the Pristhesancus plagipennis has a mottled brown/red and black coloration with a white ring at its neck and a white spot in about the center of its back. To see newly hatched nymphs, which look quite different, see the photos on the next line.
Photographed by: Willy Sufianto.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Date: 8 February, 2020.
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Pristhesancus plagipennis (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ One feature of the Pristhesancus plagipennis is the pair of small, upward projections just behind the head. They are evident in this photo. It also provides a nice look at the rostrum (the long beak), that extends back and under the head.
Photographed by: Jason Grady.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Tewantin, Queensland, Australia.
Date: 29 September, 2021.
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Pristhesancus plagipennis (no specific common name), eggs and nymphs, Pristhesancus plagipennis, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ These newly hatched nymphs of Pristhesancus plagipennis emerged from the brown and white egg mass shown. As they grow go through several stages (called instars), their appearance will change. Other postings on this page show later stages, including older nymphs and adults.
□ To see all stages from eggs through nymphal instars to adults, click here (BrisbaneInsects.com).
Photographed by: Karen Eldridge.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
Date: 11 May, 2020.
Karen says she had seen the “oval, dark brown shape on the fly screen” for at least a month, but one day, spotted a circle of tiny black dots around it “ so I went outside and took this photo. I was amazed with these.”
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Ringed assassin bug, Pselliopus cinctus, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The ringed assassin bug has a similar patterning to the orange assassin bug (Pselliopus barberi) pictured elsewhere on this page, but the overall color is a soft brown rather than vibrant orange. The ringed assassin bug preys on buffalo treehoppers.
Photographed by: Regina Rainey.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: southern Maryland, USA.
Date: 25 September, 2017.
Regina went outside with her dog, and found this pretty little bug on her hair.
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Orange assassin bug, Pselliopus barberi, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The orange color and plethora of striping set this orange assassin bug apart. In the fall, several adults — sometimes dozens — may group together beneath the bark of a tree or under a rock, where they will spend the winter . By overwintering in a protected spot and in an insulative cluster, they can survive even very cold temperatures.
Photographed and identified as an assassin bug by: Nick Fregeau.
Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: northeastern Missouri, USA.
Date: 9 March, 2021.
Nick says, “I was excited to learn that this orange assassin bug ... is in the same family as the wheel bugs, one of which I saw in mature form near the same location last year. I recognized the similar proboscis!” Nicely done, Nick!
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Orange assassin bug, nymph (immature), Pselliopus barberi, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Orange assassin bugs overwinter as adults, and lay eggs in the spring. By summer, nymphs like this one have hatched out. The nymphs go through five developmental stages (called instars) over nearly three months before finally becoming adults themselves.
□ Click on the photo to zoom in and see that amazing detail.
Photographed and identified by: Christopher Barger. Excellent ID, Christopher!
Location: East Tennessee, USA.
Date: 9 July, 2024.
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Orange assassin bug, nymph (immature), Pselliopus barberi, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Nymphs of orange assassin bugs have black-and-white banded legs and antennae, and a clump of black spikes on the end of the abdomen.
Photographed by: Lisa Wolff.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Harrisburg, North Carolina, USA.
Date: 17 July, 2019.
Lisa and her family found this orange assassin bug “on our trampoline net in the backyard.”
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Doldina interjungens (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Despite its large size (see comment below), Doldina interjungens is rarely seen. This is because it blends in so well with woody plant stems, where it often perches.
Photographed by: Marv Goldberg. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Tamarac, Florida, USA. Date: 20 May, 2020.
Marv says, “It was huge (in the 2-inch range).”
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Euagoras plagiatus (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Like other assassin bugs, Euagoras plagiatus has sharp beak-like mouthparts, called a rostrum, which it uses to stab its prey and inject venom to subdue it.
□ As the photographer unfortunately found out (see comment below), the assassin can also poke its rostrum into a person if it feels threatened, and that poke can be painful, similar to that of a wasp’s sting.
Photographed by: Ravi R. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Madurai City, south India. Date: 12 January, 2025.
Ravi says, “Just now I happened to step on something in my hall which gave me such a stinging pain, as if I had stepped on a sharp needle.”
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Rhynocoris punctiventris (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ One of the many species of assassin bug without a common name of its own, Rhynocoris punctiventris has a rather limited range: Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, and then down to Syria and Israel. Little is known about this species.
Photographed by: Miranda Macdonald. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: mountains of southern Bulgaria.
Date: 3 June, 2024.
Miranda photographed this assassin bug on woolly foxglove, also known as Grecian foxglove (Digitalis lanata), in a “mountain meadow above Bachkovo Monastery (a World Heritage Site).”
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Apiomerus spissipes (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Apiomerus spissipes is sometimes called a thick-legged bee assassin because of its rather broad front legs.
□ This species and others in the genus Apiomerus put plant resins on their front legs, which makes them stickier and better able to grasp bees. Once they have the bee in hand, they sink their sharp mouthparts (called a rostrum) into the bee and begin feeding.
Photographed by: 7-year-old Taylah Myrick. Submitted b: Taylah’s mom Annette. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Colorado, USA. Date: 2 July, 2021.
Annette says of Taylah, “She’s my aspiring entomologist. She has a bug photo album.” KnowYourInsects.org salutes Taylah!
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An assassin bug, possibly Sycanus indagator, subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This assassin bug may be the species Sycanus indagator, which preys on caterpillars of pest insects, notably the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Fall armyworms are problematic in corn, alfalfa and many other grass crops.
□ This individual made a likely rather unwelcome visit to the photographer — see the comment below.
Photographed by: Santhosh Kumar.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: India.
Date: 3 December, 2017.
Santhosh says, “I found it on my neck.”
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A neotropical assassin bug in the genus Microtomus, possibly Microtomus cinctipes (no specific common name), subfamily Microtinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This neotropical assassin bugs was photographed in Bolivia, which has a few similar-looking species. It appears to be Microtomus cinctipes, which has a bold white patch across its back, red-and-black border on the abdomen, and small red blotches on the femur of each leg.
□ Microtomus cinctipes is still being discovered in new places, including Panama and Ecuador (the journal Revista Chilena de Entomología).
Photographed by: Nicolás Christopher Petit.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: San Ignacio, Bolivia.
Date: 23 December, 2019.
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Microtomus purcis (no specific common name), subfamily Microtinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Geography was helpful in identifying this species: It was found in southern Indiana, which lies at the northern extent of the range for Microtomus purcis. It has white patches on its back and a red-and-black bordered abdomen, as do other species in the genus Microtomus, but has more prominent red areas on each hind-leg femur than the other species.
□ It often resides under bark, where it hunts and eats cockroaches (and scorpions farther south in its range).
Photographed by: G. H. Morrison.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Huntingburg, Indiana, USA.
Date: 17 September, 2020.
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Microtomus purcis (no specific common name), subfamily Microtominae, family Reduviidae.
□ An assassin bug, Microtomus purcis has a flattened, alternating red-and-black abdominal border (clearly visible in this photo). This type of flattened border is called a connexivum, and is present in many true bugs.
Photographed by: Tyler McCuan. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: western Kentucky, USA.
Date: 5 October, 2024.
Tyler says, “I’ve lived here my entire life and never came across one that looks like this. The color pattern is very unique.” |
Peprius nodulipes (no specific common name), subfamily Harpactorinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Peprius nodulipes has front legs that look like fancy stairway spindles. One of its prey is the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, an agricultural pest that is native to the Western Hemisphere, but has spread to sub-Saharan Africa, including the Central African Republic (where this photo was taken).
Photographed by: Sarah Park. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Central African Republic.
Date: 11 April, 2023.
Sarah says, “It actually looks a little regal.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, probably a Pennsylvania ambush bug, Phymata pennsylvanica, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This jagged ambush bug with its almost triangular outline could be one of two very similar species in the genus Phymata: P. pennsylvanica or P. americana. Both have a broad dark band toward the rear of the body, and large forelegs, but P. americana has an abdomen that is more smoothly rounded all the way around, whereas P. pennsylvanica has more of a pointed angle at at the banded portion of the abdomen.
Photographed by: Todd CMFN Taylor.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Rockwood, Michigan, USA.
Date: 19 September, 2019.
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An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, possibly the Pennsylvania ambush bug, Phymata pennsylvanica, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Prey for the jagged ambush bug may be all sorts of insects, including flies and bees that may be much larger than the ambush bug.
Photographed by: Dave Brigham.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Date: sometime in the 1970s.
Dave says he took this photo “with a 100 mm bellows, so it’s pretty small — guessing about 4mm.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, possibly a Pennsylvania ambush bug, Phymata pennsylvanica, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This photo shows the underside of a jagged ambush bug including its piercing mouthparts, known as the rostrum, that is capable of penetrating human skin. See the comment below.
Photographed by: Will Brown. Submitted by: Char Brown.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Date: 14 July, 2021.
Char says, “It was on our son and bit him two times on the neck.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, possibly a Pennsylvania ambush bug, Phymata pennsylvanica, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ These photographs show a nymph (left) and an adult jagged ambush bug. Note its large forelegs. When an unwary prey insect comes near, the jagged ambush bug lashes out with its large and strong forelegs, which not only grab the prey, but also hold onto it as the jagged ambush bug stabs the prey with its long beak.
□ The photographer said the adult appeared to be holding something in its front legs. See her comment about the tiny size of the nymph below.
Photographed by: Gail E. Rowley. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Texas County, Missouri Ozarks, USA. Date: 14 April, 2018.
Gail describes this as looking like “a speck of dust on my husband’s shirt after he was pulling invasive Spotted Knapweed in our field. The speck of ‘fluff’ moved, so I put it in a jar with a piece of house plant and captured a shot with all my extension tubes on my macro lens.”
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□ Jagged ambush bugs have bodies that look as if they are covered in plates of armor, and the nymphs often have vertical plates extending upward along the thorax. |
An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, probably the species known only by its scientific name of Phymata fasciata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ These photos of an assassin bug give nice views of the antennae, including the inflated last segment on each, and of the sculptured thorax. This appears to be the species Phymata fasciata.
Photographed by: Christopher Barger.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Roane County, Tennessee, USA.
Date: 2 September, 2022.
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American jagged ambush bug, Phymata americana, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Jagged ambush bugs in the genus Phymata are very difficult to tell apart. This photo provides a nice view of the veining in the wing, and appears to be an American jagged ambush bug.
Photographed by: Sue Adorjan.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Ontario, Canada.
Date: 23 September, 2021.
Sue says, “I never cease to be amazed by insects.”
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An assassin bug in the genus Phymata, possibly the American jagged ambush bug, Phymata americana, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Male American jagged ambush bugs have a darker coloration than females of the species. A study in 2007 showed that males with the darkest coloration warmed up the most on sunny cool days, which allowed them to be more active and therefore have greater success mating with females. To read the study, click here (the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences).
Photographed by: Lauren Gustafson/Ava Khaffaji. Great job, Lauren and Ava!
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Date: 19 July, 2021.
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□ The jagged ambush bugs have beak-like plate (called a clypeus) over the jaws, giving them a face rather like that of a parrot. |
Assassin bug in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The body of the jagged ambush bug looks almost robotic, as if it is encased in armor. Its front legs are reminiscent of the raptorial front legs of a praying mantis, and are ideally suited for grabbing and holding prey.
Photographed and identified by: Manzeal Khanal.
Location: Cooks Slough Nature Park, Uvalde, Texas, USA.
Date: 7 June, 2020.
Manzeal spotted this bug on Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Manzeal adds, “ I could identify it looking on your (knowyourinsects.org) website.” KnowYourInsects.org says, “Nicely done, Manzeal!”
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Jagged ambush bug in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This jagged ambush bug has apparently ambushed this fly, and has now stabbed it with its spear-like mouthparts. Although the adult has hemelytra (forewings) as shown here, it is not a good flier and rarely flies.
Photographed by: Bear Barrow.
Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Milliken, Colorado, USA.
Date: 8 August, 2020.
Bear says, “Strangest bug I’ve seen.”
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□ Nymphs of jagged ambush bugs often have amazingly ornate crowns atop the head. |
Jagged ambush bug, nymph (immature), in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
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□ This wonderful photo of a jagged ambush bug nymph gives an excellent look at the elaborate crest atop its head and armor-like plates on its body. The photographer provided this spot-on description: “Personally, I think it looks like a cross between Godzilla and a baby lamb.”
□ Click on the photo to zoom in and see the details.
Photographed and identified by: Victoria Virgona. Nicely done, Victoria!
Location: East Setauket, New York, USA.
Date: 2 September, 2021.
Victoria says, “As a hobbyist and nerd, I love learning about science and nature.... I hope my photo helps others like me who find this world fascinating.”
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Ambush bug, nymph (immature), probably in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This ambush bug nymph (immature) is showing off its piercing mouthparts, called the rostrum, as well as its large forelegs.
Photographed by: Jessica Milko.
Identified to subfamily by: entomologist J. E. McPherson. (Thank you, Dr. McPherson!) Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Washington Township, Michigan, USA.
Date: 28 July, 2018.
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Jagged ambush bug, nymph (immature), in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The jagged ambush bug earns its name: It sits still in flowers and waits for an unwary prey to happen by, and then suddenly grabs and bites. This series of photos provides a side view, and a close-up from the bottom, which gives a great view of the piercing mouthparts and strong, grasping, raptorial forelegs.
Photographed by: Sean Spicer.
Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Carquinez Straight Regional Shoreline area Martinez, California, USA.
Date: 1 June, 2020.
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Jagged ambush bug, nymph (immature), in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The photo at left gives a good idea of the size of a jagged ambush bug nymph. Do you see it? The right photo is a close-up of this little insect, which the photographer described as a “Godzilla bug.”
Photographed by: Jenny Rash.
Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Athens, Tennessee, USA.
Date: 18 November, 2023.
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Jagged ambush bug, nymph (immature), in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
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□ Sarah found this nymph of a jagged ambush bug on a celery plant. See her comment below.
Photographed and identified by: Sarah Voyt. Nicely done, Sarah!
Location: West coast of Michigan, USA.
Date: 13 July, 2022.
Sarah says, “Its strongman biceps make me laugh.”
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Jagged ambush bug, nymph (immature), in the genus Phymata, subfamily Phymatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This photograph of a nymph jagged ambush bug shows the curved shape of its back.
Photographed by: Sandra Rickett.
Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: North Carolina, USA.
Date: 26 July, 2020.
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Western corsair bug, Rasahus thoracicus, subfamily Peiratinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Western corsair bugs usually go about their business of killing and eating other insects, and have no interaction with humans. If a person picks one up or otherwise harasses it, however, the western corsair bug can give a painful poke with its spear-like rostrum (its “beak”).
Photographed by: Anthony Romero.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Ventura, California, USA.
Date: 12 July, 2018.
Anthony says, “Well, I think this is very cool. We had not seen such an interesting species before and I really had a difficult time tracking information down online not knowing the name, but you came through like a champ. Thank you for the insights and help.” KnowYourInsects.org says, “You’re welcome, Anthony!”
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Western corsair bug, Rasahus thoracicus, subfamily Peiratinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This western corsair bug looks quite similar to the corsair assassin bug (Rasahus hamatus) shown elsewhere on this page, especially with the large spot on the rear of their hemelytra (forewings). The western corsair bug, however, has orange flanking on the forward half of its hemelytra, and the corsair assassin bug does not.
Photographed by: LC.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: north of San Francisco, California, USA.
Date: 28 August, 2016.
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Western corsair bug, Rasahus thoracicus, subfamily Peiratinae, family Reduviidae.
□ These photos of a western corsair bugs show both the dorsal and ventral views, and the black-and-white trim on the abdomen.
Photographed and identified by: Gabreal Velasquez. Nicely done, Gabreal!
Location: San Diego, California, USA.
Date: 25 August, 2022.
Gabreal says, “Rescued from an old spider web.”
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Corsair assassin bug, Rasahus hamatus, subfamily Peiratinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The corsair assassin bug has dark hemelytra (forewings), except for the single large spot in the center of each. Otherwise it is very similar in appearance to the closely related western corsair bug (Rasahus thoracicus), shown elsewhere on this page. The two species are in the same genus.
Photographed by: Heather Hazlett.
Identified to order by KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: central Texas, USA.
Date: 2 June, 2017.
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An assassin bug, nymph (immature), probably in the genus Rasahus (perhaps Sirthenea), subfamily Peiratinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This subfamily of assassin bugs (Peiratinae) has only three genera in the United States, where this one was photographed. The coloration and body shape suggest this one is in the genus Rasahus, but the long head gives the impression that it might be in the genus Sirthenea, according to entomologist Christiane Weirauch of the University of California, Riverside.
Photographed by: Kevin Watkins.
Identified to order by: Al Newton of the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Identified to genus by: entomologist Christiane Weirauch of the University of California, Riverside. Thank you, Dr. Newton and Dr. Weirauch!
Location: northwest Alabama, USA.
Date: 28 October, 2018.
Bugguide says species in this subfamily “are known for their notoriously painful bites,” to which Kevin says his wife can attest.
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An assassin bug in the genus Oncocephalus, possibly Oncocephalus schioedtei (no specific common name), subfamily Stenopodainae, family Reduviidae.
□ Members of this subfamily (Stenopodainae) of assassin bugs are typically native to tropical rainforests, but have moved into farmlands.
Photographed by: Marutesh L. Patil.
Identified to genus by: entomologist Dunston P. Ambrose of St. Xavier’s College in India. Thank you, Dr. Ambrose!
Location: Titwala, Manda, Tatwala, Maharashtra, India.
Date: 31 March, 2020.
Dr. Ambrose notes he would need to see the specimen to be certain of his identification.
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An assassin bug in the genus Oncocephalus, subfamily Stenopodainae, family Reduviidae.
□ This rather thin assassin bug has small dark speckles on its hemelytra (forewings), and small white spots at in the middle of its back — on its scutellum (the triangular area at the rear of the thorax). Click on the photo to zoom in and see the scutellum.
Photographed by: Diana.
Identified to genus by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Riga, Latvia.
Date: 19 July, 2021.
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Triatoma rubrofasciata (tentative), subfamily Triatominae, family Reduviidae.
□ Triatoma rubrofasciata is one of the so-called kissing bugs or blood-sucking conenoses. In the Americas, it carries the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that causes the life-threatening Chagas disease. In Vietnam, where this photo was taken, its carries other health-threatening parasites. To read more, click here (the journal Parasites and Vectors).
Photographed and identified to order by: Robert Lewis. Identified to genus by Thi Nhi Pham, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Thank you for the ID!
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Identified to tentative species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Date: 17 March, 2017.
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□ Some assassin bugs, notably those in the subfamily Triatominae, pose health problems for humans. They are sometimes called kissing bugs or blood-sucking conenoses, and their bite can transmit diseases. To learn more, click here (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). |
Masked hunter, Reduvius personatus, subfamily Reduviinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The adult masked hunter is a shiny black insect with a quite small head compared to its body. They sometimes venture into houses to search for prey — mostly pest insects — but they rarely become numerous.
Photographed by: Abraham Woodard. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Gardiner, New York. Date: 27 June, 2024.
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An assassin bug, likely a masked hunter, Reduvius personatus, subfamily Reduviinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The masked hunter is sometimes called a masked bed bug hunter because it attacks and eats bed bugs, among assorted other invertebrates. It is a nocturnal hunter, and usually stays out of sight during the day.
Photographed by: Anonymous.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Toronto, Canada.
Date: 9 July, 2018.
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Masked hunter, nymph (immature), Reduvius personatus, subfamily Reduviinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Entomologist Duke Elsner provided this information about masked hunters: “The nymphs are coated with sticky hairs called setae, and they get covered with whatever small particulate material they come in contact with. The adults are shining deep-brown to black, and do not have the sticky setae.” See the adult elsewhere on this page.
Photographed by: Denise Rulason.
Identified by: entomologist Duke Elsner. Thank you, Dr. Elsner!
Location: Mayville, Michigan, USA.
Date: 18 September, 2017.
Denise says, “It was “VERY small. Possibly (the size of the) eraser on a pencil for circumference with legs.”
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Masked hunter, nymph (immature), Reduvius personatus, subfamily Reduviinae, family Reduviidae.
□ The photographer provided a video of this little fuzzball — a nymph of a masked hunter — walking around. The nymphs do occasionally bite people when they feel threatened — for instance, when a person who accidentally leans an arm on it.
Photographed by: Luca Calautti. Submitted by: Valentino Antonio.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org
Location: Bolton, Ontario, Canada.
Date: 15 August, 2019.
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Masked hunter, nymph (immature), Reduvius personatus, subfamily Reduviinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This masked hunter nymph looks as if it is wearing a nubby, woolen coat. See the photographer’s comment below.
Photographed by: Victoria B.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Date: 15 August, 2022.
Victoria says, “It was very fuzzy, which made it a surprising find!”
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Thread-legged bug in the genus Emesaya, subfamily Emesinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This thread-legged bug is sitting in the characteristic pose: four legs pointed forward and the hind pair extending to the rear. Its head is about in the middle and can be distinguished by the pair of somewhat-larger black spots, which are its eyes.
Photographed by: Eddie lim.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Larkin, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Date: 7 May, 2019.
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A mating pair of assassin bugs, likely thread-legged bugs in the genus Emesaya, subfamily Emesinae, family Reduviidae.
□ It is difficult to see, but this is a mating pair of assassin bugs, probably the type known as thread-legged bugs, and they are connected hind end to hind end. Both the male and female are very skinny insects, four legs of each one is pointing forward and the hind pair extending out to the rear.
Photographed by: Meem Sarkar.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org (with a nudge in the right direction from entomologist Thies Büscher).
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Date: 15 October, 2015.
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Thread-legged bug, subfamily Emesinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This silhouette of an insect appears to be a thread-legged bug. Like mantids, thread-legged bugs hold the front pair of legs up off the ground and in the ready position, so they can fling them out to grab a passing prey insect. The front pair of legs look are on the right and look like antennae in this photo. The abdomen is the bulbous part of the insect at the left.
Photographed by: Denise Frank.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Punta Gorda Town, Belize, Central America.
Date: 30 July, 2018.
Denise describes this as “SOMETHING I found on my window screen ... so-o-o-o skinny and thin I barely saw it... but it is definitely a critter of some sort.”
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Assassin bug in the genus Petalocheirus, quite possibly Petalocheirus indicus (no specific common name), subfamily Salyavatinae, family Reduviidae.
□ This genus of assassin bug has an array of small spines around the border of its abdomen, as well as some larger spines on its pronotum (the shield covering its thorax); and an expanded section on each foreleg, which likely assists them in grasping prey. Depending on the angle of view, the expanded section may look like a leaf or a crab claw.
□ Click on the photo to zoom in.
Photographed and identified to family by: Bindu Vidyadhar.
Identified to genus and tentative species by: KnowYourInsects.org
Location: Western Ghats, South India.
Date: 17 October, 2021.
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A millipede assassin bug in the genus Haematorrhophus, subfamily Ectrichodiinae, family Reduviidae.
□ Nymphs of the millipede assassin bug in the genus Haematorrhophus have blood-red-colored abdomens, with a black thorax and head. These nymphs are large — the photographer estimates this one was about 3 cm (more than an inch) long. This species kills and eats millipedes.
Photographed by: Enrico Perlo. Submitted by: Helen Armstrong.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Goa, India.
Date: 3 September, 2022.
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□ Would you like a list of all 165-plus “true bug”/Hemiptera families — in one handy place? We made one for you! To see it, click here. |
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An assassin bug, nymph (immature), family Reduviidae.
□ This assassin bug nymph has an interesting pattern, almost as if someone outlined it with a fine-tip pen. The photographer described it as about an inch (2.5 cm) in body length.
Photographed and identified as an assassin bug by: Mark Magers.
Location: Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico.
Date: 24 February, 2022.
Mark spotted it “sitting on the chair next to me at lunch.... It was pretty cool.”
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An assassin bug, nymph (immature), family Reduviidae.
□ This assassin bug nymph is orange with a black marking near the end of the end of the abdomen.
Photographed and identified as an assassin bug by: CJ Inosanto.
Location: Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan Philippines.
Date: 23 August, 2020.
CJ notes that it also has “stripes in the middle of its six legs.”
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An assassin bug, family Reduviidae.
□ Notice the beak that extends backward from the head in this assassin bug. It uses the beak to stab prey insects and suck out their body fluids. Assassin is a good descriptor!
Photographed by: Mark Smith.
Identified to order by KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Huntington Woods, Michigan, USA.
Date: 2 July, 2013.
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Nabidae (the damsel bugs)
A damsel bug in the genus Nabis, subfamily Nabinae, family Nabidae.
□ Damsel bugs catch their prey — other soft-bodied insects, such as cutworms, aphids, and other garden pests — with their front legs, similar to the way mantises will grab prey. Overall, they are good to have in the garden.
Photographed by: MaryJane Griblin.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: West Sacramento, California, USA. Date: 5 September, 2019.
MaryJane has “continuing fascination and curiosity” of the many varieties insects.
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□ Damsel bugs get their name from their typical posture: holding their front legs up, as if they are lifting the edges of an imaginary skirt. (Yes, it is a bit of a stretch!) For more about these insects, click here (University of Kentucky Entomology). |
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Tingidae (the lace bugs)
Andromeda lace bug, Stephanitis takeyai, subfamily Tinginae, family Tingidae.
□ Andromeda lace bugs are small insects that can become problems on plants in the genus Pieris japonica, notably the Japanese andromeda, which has bell-shaped flowers (similar to blueberry flowers).
Photographed and identified by: Jonathan Lovett. Location: East Sussex, UK. Date: 22 June, 2022.
Upon learning the lacebug’s identity, Jonathan checked his Japanese andromeda “and unfortunately for us but happily for the bug (one presumes), found clear signs of an infestation. |
Sycamore lace bug, Corythucha ciliata, subfamily Tinginae, family Tingidae.
□ The sycamore lace bug has wide, lace-like wings and extensions on its thorax, as if someone has snipped out a bit of a bridal veil and laid it atop the bug. The wings are also edged with tiny tooth-like projections. Click on the photo to zoom in on the wings to see them. The underside view (left photo) shows the outline of the body.
□ While this species usually feeds on plant sap, research reports from Europe indicate that it will also bite people, who may then have bad reaction: See the photographer’s comment below. To read one of the reports, click here (Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene).
Photographed by: Harry Harm.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Oradea, Romania. Date: 5 August, 2020.
Harry says, “This summer I have been getting bites, but did not know from what. I was thinking that we had no-see-ums here like I encountered when I lived in Cyprus, (but then saw) thousands of small insects that look like this.”
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Chrysanthemum lace bug, Corythucha marmorata, subfamily Tinginae, family Tingidae.
□ The chrysanthemum lace bug has more opaque areas between the wing veins than other species found in the United States (where this one was photographed). This gives the wings an appearance resembling white marble mottled with rivers of light brown.
Photographed by: Paul Cheng.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Date: 6 July, 2019.
He says, “I just want to know what this beautiful insect is.”
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Lace bug in the genus Corythucha, subfamily Tinginae, family Tingidae.
□ Most lace bugs are fussy eaters, which is very helpful in identification. For instance, if this one was on a hawthorn tree (in the genus Crataegus), it would likely be a hawthorn lace bug (Corythucha cydoniae). On an American hazelnut tree (Corylus americana), it would likely be a hazelnut lace bug (Corythucha coryli). Without that information, however, determining species is extremely difficult.
Photographed by: Sharon Gewain.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: central North Carolina, USA. Date: 29 August, 2019.
After finding out what it was, Sharon says, “My daughter took the insect on Scotch tape to work and looked at it under a microscope. She said the lacy wings were visible.” KnowYourInsects.org says, “Cool!”
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Lace bug in the genus Corythucha, subfamily Tinginae, family Tingidae.
□ This lace bug appears to be either a walnut lace bug or a buckeye lace bug. Often, the identification of the species on lace bug can be assisted by the type of tree or plant on which it is found, but the location of this one was no help — see the photographer’s comment below to see why.
Photographed by: Chelsea Hayman.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Delaware, Ohio, USA. Date: 16 October, 2019.
Chelsea says, “I found this bug on a pair of socks from Walmart yesterday.”
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Miridae (the plant bugs, leaf bugs, and grass bugs)
Four-lined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ The bright green and black stripes on this four-lined plant bug are a stand-out, and the orange head is an added bonus. Occasionally, individuals in this species have yellow striping instead of green. Gardeners, however, are not always happy to spot them — see the comment below.
Photographed by: Sarah McKay-Mertz.
Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan USA.
Date: 1 July, 2022.
Sarah says, “He and his brethren were all over my basil, and now it has little black dots of many of the leaves.”
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Two-spotted grass bug, Stenotus binotatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ This two-spotted grass bug has a pair of large black spots on its pronotum (the shield covering its thorax). The dark striping on its back may be lighter or darker in some individuals. It is native to Europe, but is now found in North America, where this one was photographed.
Photographed and identified by: Denise Rulason.
Location: Mayville, Michigan, USA.
Date: 24 June, 2018.
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Potato capsid, Closterotomus norwegicus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ This wonderful close-up of a potato capsid shows the two tiny black spots on the pronotum (the shield covering its thorax), but not all members of this species have them. According to BritishBugs.org, two definitive features of this insect are: 1) the length of its antennal segments — the second segment is longest, and about the length of the last two segments combined; and 2) the spines on its tibia (the “shins”) are short, less than the width of the tibia.
Photographed and identified by: Bryan Wenham-Baker. Nicely done on the ID, Bryan!
Location: Near Ivybridge, South Hams, South Devon, England, UK.
Date: 9 June, 2018.
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Tarnished plant bug, nymph (immature), Lygus lineolaris, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ As the nymphs of the tarnished plant bug grow older — from first-instar nymphs to fifth-instar nymphs (the last stage before becoming an adult) — they gain more spots and also develop wing buds. This fifth-instar nymph has four spots on its thorax, one more in the center of its abdomen, and wing buds. For more information about this species, click here (University of Florida “Featured Creatures”).
Photographed by: Daisy Rulz.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Mayville, Michigan, USA.
Date: 26 August, 2017.
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Western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus), subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ This nice series of photos shows different angles of this western tarnished plant bug, including its long beak (lower right photo). Lygus bugs have become pest insects on strawberry farms in Canada, where these photos were taken. The bugs cause the strawberries to become lumpy.
Photographed by: Terry Paulhus.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Calgary, Canada.
Date: 7 August, 2018.
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Lygus plant bug in the genus Lygus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ This lygus plant bugs is the shared common name of species in the genus Lygus. This one has a heart shape on its scutellum (the triangular structure at the rear of the thorax). The heart is characteristic of several species in the UK, where this photo was taken.
Photographed by: Dave Johnson.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: England.
Date: 26 June, 2020.
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Alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ Alfalfa plant bugs may have a head and thorax that are nearly all lime-green in color, or that have a good deal of brown, as seen here. All have a pair of nearly adjacent brown bars running down the center of the scutellum (the triangular structure at the rear of the thorax) and a pair of large light-colored spots toward the rear of the hemelytra (forewings).
Photographed and identified as a plant bug by: Diana Luntena. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Riga, Latvia. Date: 22 August, 2023.
Diana says, “Seems to have a pair of somewhat-long antennae and quite large back legs (at least compared to the rest of its legs).”
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Alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ Alfalfa plant bugs that are more green than brown on the head and thorax have two small but noticeable dark spots on the pronotum (the shield covering its thorax), as seen here.
□ It is a major pest of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Lucerne is another term for alfalfa, so this species is also sometimes called a lucerne bug.
Photographed by: Jostein Håvard Kolnes.
Identified by: Dr. Bernard S. Nau. Thank you, Dr. Nau!
Location: Stavanger-area, Norway.
Date: 13 August, 2012.
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Meadow plant bug, Leptopterna dolabrata, nymph (immature), subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ This is a fifth-instar nymph of a meadow plant bug, so in one more molt, it will become an adult. To see the adult and learn more about this species, click here (NatureSpot).
Photographed by: Jostein Håvard Kolnes.
Identified by: Dr. Bernard S. Nau. Thank you, Dr. Nau!
Location: Stavanger-area, Norway.
Date: 31 July, 2011.
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Grypocoris stysi (no specific common name), subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ Grypocoris stysi has a distinctive pattern of yellowish markings (see the comment below). The large markings on on the back half of each hemelytra (the two forewings) may be orange in some individuals. This bug eats aphids, so it is considered a friend to gardeners.
□ Note: This species is sometimes listed under its former genus name of Calocoris.
Photographed by: Pascal Stil.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Belfast, Ireland.
Date: 23 June, 2020.
Pascal says, “I was out for a walk today and took some pictures of flowers, and in one I spotted this insect, the most characteristic thing appears to be what looks like a letter N on its back.”
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Three-spotted nettle bug, Liocoris tripustulatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ With three prominent spots and its favored location on stinging nettle plants (Urtica dioica), the three-spotted nettle bug has a well-suited name. This one was photographed in mid-summer. In the spring, they are much paler in color, but the spots are still evident.
Photographed by: Eric Eddles. Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Date: 7 July, 2022.
Eric found it near a pond and says, “Yes, there are indeed nettles there.” |
Three-spotted nettle bug, Liocoris tripustulatus, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ Three-spotted nettle bugs are widespread insects, so they are sometimes also called common nettle bugs. A close look reveals that this species has a number of black bands around its legs.
Photographed and identified by: Eric Bleheut. Excellent ID, Eric! Location: Lille, France. Date: 25 June, 2023.
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Grass bug, Stenodema laevigatum, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ The grass bug has muted brown lines on a lighter yellow-brown (occasionally light-green) background, and has no spines on its hind-leg femur. This sets it apart from fellow species in the Stenodema genus, which look quite similar but do have spines on the hind-leg femur.
Photographed and identified by: Jean-Louis Metzger. Nice job, Jean-Louis!
Location: Oxford, England, UK.
Date: 5 August, 2017.
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Apple capsid, Lygocoris rugicollis, subfamily Mirinae, family Miridae.
□ Other than the clear section of its hemelytra (the forewings covering its abdomen), this apple capsid is almost completely pale green.
Photographed and identified to genus by: Eric Bleheut. Nicely done, Eric! Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org. Location: Lille, France. Date: 14 June, 2023.
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A seed bug, subfamily Mirinae, family Miriidae.
□ This seed bug has sparse hairs called setae on its pronotum (the shield covering its thorax) and the hardened half of its hemelytra (the forewings covering most of its back). It was found in Serbia. If you can identify this seed bug further, please let us know.
Photographed by: Zoran Bozovic.
Identified by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Batajnica municipality, Serbia.
Date: 13 May, 2022.
Zoran says, “I photograph moths, but sometimes the bugs land on table... like this one.”
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Deraeocoris flavilinea (no specific common name), subfamily Deraeocorinae, family Miridae.
□ Deraeocoris flavilinea has two spots on its wings. This individual has red spots, but others may have orange or light-beige spots.
□ Note: These plant bugs are sometimes erroneously called dirt-colored seed bugs, but that name is reserved for bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae.
Photographed and identified to genus by: Jean-Louis Metzger. Nicely done, Jean-Louis! Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: on Cunard’s MS Queen Victoria, sailing from Southhampton, UK, to Norway and Iceland.
Date: 22 June, 2018.
Jean-Louis gave its size as 10x4mm.
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Deraeocoris flavilinea (no specific common name), subfamily Deraeocorinae, family Miridae.
□ Deraeocoris flavilinea looks similar to the closely related red-spotted plant bug (Deraeocoris ruber), but the latter lacks the white border around the scutellum (the triangular section in about the center of the back).
Photographed and identified to genus by: Eric Blehaut. Identified to species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: Lille, France.
Date: 8 June, 2023.
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Red-spotted plant bug, Deraeocoris ruber, subfamily Deraeocorinae, family Miridae.
□ Compare this species of red-spotted plant bug with Deraeocoris flavilinea, which is also pictured on this page, to see the difference between these two very similar plant bugs. This red-spotted plant bug lacks white outlining seen in Deraeocoris flavilinea.
Photographed and identified by: Eric Blehaut. Nicely done, Eric!
Location: Lille, France.
Date: 19 June, 2023.
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A plant bug in the genus Deraeocoris, subfamily Deraeocorinae, family Miridae.
□ Entomologist Fedor V. Konstantinov identified this plant bug as either Deraeocoris serenus or Deraeocoris punctulatus. Most of the species in this genus are predaceous on other insects: Deraeocoris punctulatus preys on aphids; and Deraeocoris serenus preys on whiteflies.
Photographed by: Emily Poole. Identified to family by: entomologist Wenjun Bu of Nankai University in China. Identified to genus by: entomologist Fedor V. Konstantinov of St. Petersburg State University in Russia. Thank you, Dr. Wenjun and Dr. Konstantinov!
Location: Košice Am, Slovenia.
Date: 4 September, 2019.
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Plant bugs, nymphs, in the genus Deraeocoris, subfamily Deraeocorinae, family Miridae.
□ These plant bug nymphs may be red-spotted plant bugs (Deraeocoris rubra). See the adult red-spotted plant bug elsewhere on this page.
Photographed and identified by: Eric Blehaut.
Location: Lille, France.
Date: 8 June, 2023.
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Hemelytra is the scientific term for the forewings of the true bugs in the suborder Heteroptera. It is a Greek word for half-sheath, and refers to half-stiff, half-membranous construction of the forewings. This is well-seen in the red mountain laurel mirid (the red is the sheath portion, and the brown is membranous portion). |
Red mountain laurel mirid in the genus Lopidea, quite possibly Lopidea major, subfamily Orthotylinae, family Miridae.
□ The red mountain laurel mirid is only found in a small area of Texas, but in the late spring/early summer when they are out feeding and laying eggs, their populations swell.
Photographed and identified to order by: Manzeal Khanal. Identified to tentative species by: KnowYourInsects.org.
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Date: 23 March, 2020.
Manzeal says he saw many of these bugs on Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) in the parking lot of a shopping mall. This one is sitting on cactus near some laurel trees.
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Common flathorn plant bug, Heterotoma planicornis, subfamily Orthotylinae, family Miridae.
□ Common flathorn plant bugs have a long, thick and flat section on each antenna (the second segment from the head), with two very thin sections at the tip. The antennae and the very pale-green legs are excellent identifying features.
□ The adults and nymphs (immatures) have a broad diet. They will eat other invertebrates, as well as flower buds.
Photographed and identified by: Eric Blehaut. Nice ID, Eric!
Location: Lille, France.
Date: 24 June, 2023.
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Photos at the top of this website by: Leslie Mertz, LMERTZ@nasw.org.
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