Assassin Bug
Assassin bugs (Family Heteroptera) are aptly named because they are predatory insects, feeding mainly on other insects. This hemipteran of the order Reduviidae has a relatively small and longish head with large compound eyes and a distinct sucking mouthparts. Their legs are fairly large and they effectively use it to grasp their prey. They puncture their victim with their elongated mouthparts and inject poisonous saliva which will dissolves tissues, before eventually suck their prey body fluid.
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| Assassin bug with prey. |
Interestingly, assassin bugs are known to use chemical bait to catch their prey. Some species collect plant sap on their leg that attract other insects. Others secrete chemical that not only attract ants but also kill them. And one species spits poisonous chemical to paralyze its prey.
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| Assassin bug uses its long mouthparts to feed on other insects. |
Except for those species that cause Chagas disease in South America, assassin bugs are not harmful to man, but still their bite is painful. On the contrary, they may benefit man especially in gardens and agricultural landscape where they control the population of pests like aphids, caterpillars and grasshoppers.
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