Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily predatory or omnivorous plant bugs, feeding on small insects and other arthropods as well as plant material.

• They may prey on aphids, small insect larvae, mites and other soft-bodied arthropods, while also obtaining nutrients from plant tissues.

• This combination of predation and plant feeding is characteristic of several members of the Deraeocorinae.

• The biology and prey preferences of many Eustictus species remain poorly documented.

Range

• The genus is primarily New World, with species occurring from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America and into South America. The genus contains more than 30 described species.

• They are occasionally sighted in Zihua, particularly in warm habitats with abundant vegetation and small insect prey.

Habitat

• Found in tropical and subtropical forest, tropical dry forest, scrub, woodland, forest edges and gardens.

• Adults are generally associated with foliage, where they can hunt small arthropods and feed on plant tissues.

• Around Zihua, examine shrubs, small trees and dense foliage, particularly where aphids, scale insects or other small prey are present.

• Their small size and often dark, ant-like appearance can make them easy to overlook.

Size

• Adults are generally small, commonly around 5–7 mm in length, although there is variation among species. For example, Eustictus pilipes has been recorded at about 5.9 mm.

• Body relatively slender and compact, with some species having a distinctly ant-like appearance.

• Colouration varies from brown or reddish-brown to dark or nearly black, sometimes with contrasting pale areas.

• The legs and antennae can be relatively long, and some species have conspicuous hairs or spines on the legs.