Small Milkweed Bug vs Assassin Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Milkweed Bug | Assassin Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lygaeus kalmii | Zelus renardii |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Lygaeidae | Reduviidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Small Milkweed Bug
A boldly patterned red-and-black seed bug that feeds on milkweed seeds and sequesters toxic cardiac glycosides. Its warning coloration advertises its chemical defense to predators.
Did You Know?
It stores milkweed toxins in its body, making it taste terrible to birds and other predators that try to eat it.
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.