Kelly B. Pascoe
Minisink Valley Buildings & Grounds
Slate Hill, NY
Hi Kelly,
There was no question here. There was not even a greeting much less a thank you for our time. This is a Masked Bed Bug Hunter.
I very much apologize- it was one of those deals that you attach the picture, then automatically hit send. I apologize. Thank you very much for your information and your time.
Kelly
Assassin?
This bug was on a Camillia in my back yard now his image is my desktop image. Is this shy little guy an Assassin Bug? I can’t see a stinger.
This is an immature Assassin Bug Nymph in the genus Zelus. It doesn’t have a stinger, but it does have a piercing mouthpart.
assassin bugs
This is a picture of what I believe to be two immature assassin bugs, the bottom one eating a cricket. They were found in my yard in Lynn Haven, FL. Please help me identify their species.
Thank you.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
We don’t want to even attempt a species identification on a nymph, but we are fairly certain the genus is Zelus.
Update: May 4, 2013
We just received a comment correcting the genus as being Fitchia. BugGuide images verify that identification.
Oh my…. please identify this bug!
I’m so happy I found your site! Could you please tell me what this is?! I just found it ON MY BED! It’s two o’clock in the morning and I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight because I’m refusing to set foot in my bedroom until I find out what this is… I wonder how long it’s been sleeping with me?? I’m so disgusted… Waiting for your reply, Sleeping with a bug
P.S. I kind of destroyed it’s back right leg (by accident) while capturing it.
Samantha,
Calm down Samantha, and rest easy.
The Masked Bed Bug Hunter is a type of Assassin Bug. It can bite, but is not a household pest. They actually prey upon Bed Bugs, the true vermin, and as Bed Bug populations are on the rise in big cities, you should welcome your Masked Hunter.
What’s this striking orange bug?
My guess is that it’s some variety of stinkbug, although I confess I didn’t poke it to see if it produced a stench. This was taken at the Heard Science Museum and Nature Preserve in McKinney, Texas in March 2006. The critter is perched on the bark of the largest sycamore tree in the preserve.
Joy
Hi Joy,
This is most definitely an Assassin Bug in the family Reduviidae, but we are not sure of the species. We would like to get Eric Eaton to substantiate this. Eric just wrote in with this information: ” The orange assassin bug is a Pselliopus sp., probably P. barberi.”
What is this Creature?
Hi, found your site this morning and was relieved to see someone cares enough to help folks like me indentify those strange but often beautiful insects. The first picture was taken several days before the next three. However both were found on flowers of same plant. While I think the bug with wings open resembles the other pictures, I am not sure. I did various searches on your site and browsed all beetles, flies, moths and more. I did not feel I found a perfect match. Thanks in advance.
Patti McNeal in Katy, TX
Hi Patti,
All of your photos are of a Milkweed Assassin Bug, Zelus longipes. These predatory True Bugs are beneficial in the garden where they help eat many insect pests.
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