Milkweed Assassin Bug vs Assassin Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Milkweed Assassin Bug | Assassin Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zelus longipes | Zelus renardii |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Reduviidae | Reduviidae |
| Size | 16-20 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America, Central America, South America | North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Milkweed Assassin Bug
A slender, brightly colored assassin bug with red and black markings. It is a generalist predator common in gardens and agricultural fields.
Did You Know?
It coats its legs with sticky resin to trap small insects, functioning as a living flypaper strip.
Assassin Bug
Ambush predators that impale prey with their curved beak and inject lethal saliva. Some species coat their legs with sticky plant resin to trap prey. Named for their hunting strategy.
Did You Know?
Some assassin bugs stack the corpses of their prey on their backs as camouflage and armor — creating a gruesome shield of dead ants and other insects.