Subject: Assassin bug or kissing bug?
Geographic location of the bug: North Virginia
Date: 04/26/2019
Time: 02:37 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: On April 26, I saw this bug in my mail box and thought it looked interesting so I took a few pictures of it. But just today, I saw a news post about the Kissing Bug and tried to search around to find out if it was. I ended up finding another article on here dating back to April 2016 with a photo of a similar looking bug called the Assassin bug or something like that. Can you please help me identify this bug?
Thank you~
How you want your letter signed: Liya
Dear Liya,
This is a Sycamore Assassin Bug in the genus Pselliopus, and like other members of the Assassin Bug family Reduviidae, it might bite if carelessly handled, but the bite is not considered dangerous. Kissing Bugs are also Assassin Bugs, but they prey upon warm blooded hosts. Kissing Bugs will readily bite humans and especially those found in warmer regions can spread Chagas Disease.