Milkweed Assassin Bug vs Sycamore Seed Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Milkweed Assassin Bug Sycamore Seed Bug
Scientific Name Zelus longipes Belonochilus numenius
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Reduviidae Lygaeidae
Size 16-20 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Gardens Woodlands
Diet Predators Seed Feeders
Regions North America, Central America, South America North America, Europe
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.

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Did You Know?

It coats its legs with sticky resin to trap small insects, functioning as a living flypaper strip.

Sycamore Seed Bug

A seed bug native to North America that feeds exclusively on sycamore seeds. It has recently invaded Europe where it spread rapidly.

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Did You Know?

This species was first detected in Europe in 2008 and has since spread across the continent in less than a decade.