Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Predatory, feeding primarily on other insects and small arthropods.

• Like other Harpactorini, Rocconota species use their piercing-sucking rostrum to stab prey and inject saliva that helps immobilise and digest the prey internally.

• They are active hunters or ambush predators that use vegetation as a platform from which to locate and capture prey.

Range

• Rocconota belongs to the family Reduviidae, subfamily Harpactorinae, tribe Harpactorini. The genus was established by Carl Stål in 1859.

• The genus is primarily Neotropical, with species occurring in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and parts of South America.

• Around Zihua, the genus would likely be considered occasional to locally uncommon, occurring where suitable tropical vegetation and insect prey are present.

Habitat

• Rocconota species are associated with vegetated terrestrial habitats, including tropical and subtropical forest, dry forest, woodland, scrub and forest margins.

• They may occur on shrubs, herbs and small trees where insect prey is abundant.

• Like many Harpactorini, they can also occur in disturbed habitats, agricultural areas, gardens and roadsides, provided there is sufficient vegetation for hunting.

• Around Zihua, likely habitat includes tropical dry forest, thorn scrub, forest edges, flowering vegetation and lightly disturbed areas.

• Members of Harpactorini are commonly encountered on low vegetation, in leaf litter and on fallen vegetation, and are often active in sunny conditions.

Size

• Rocconota species are medium-sized assassin bugs, although body size varies among species.

• The body is generally elongate, with the long legs and antennae characteristic of many Harpactorini.

• Colouration varies among species and can include combinations of brown, reddish, yellowish and dark markings.