Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily predatory, using their piercing-sucking rostrum to inject digestive enzymes into prey and then suck out the liquefied contents.

• Most species feed on other insects and small arthropods, including caterpillars, beetles, flies, true bugs, aphids and other soft-bodied prey.

Range

• Assassin bugs occur worldwide, with their greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. They occupy an exceptionally broad range of terrestrial environments and microhabitats.

• Around Zihua, Reduviidae would likely be considered common to locally abundant, with many species occurring in tropical dry forest, woodland, gardens, agricultural areas and other insect-rich habitats.

Habitat

• Assassin bugs occur in an extraordinary variety of habitats, including tropical dry forest, rainforest, woodland, scrub, grassland, agricultural fields, gardens and urban environments.

• Different groups occupy specialised microhabitats. Some hunt on vegetation, while others live beneath bark, in leaf litter, around decaying logs, in soil or among rocks and crevices.

• Around Zihua, look for them on leaves, flowers, stems, tree trunks, grasses and shrubs, particularly where insect prey is plentiful.

• Many species are ambush predators, remaining motionless until suitable prey comes within reach. Others actively patrol vegetation in search of prey.

Size

• Reduviidae vary enormously in size, from tiny species only 2–3 mm long to large assassin bugs approaching 40 mm.

• Most have a characteristic elongated head and stout, three-segmented piercing rostrum, which is often tucked beneath the head and thorax when not in use.

• Body shape varies tremendously between subfamilies, ranging from slender, stick-like species to broad, robust forms.

• Colouration ranges from inconspicuous brown, grey and black to striking combinations of red, orange, yellow and black.