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True Bugs of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER HETEROPTERA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-​True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera)

-True Bugs (Suborder Heteroptera)​

-​Cimicomorph Bugs (Superfamily Reduvioidea)

-​Assassin Bugs (Family Reduviidae)

-​Thread-legged Bugs (Subfamily Emesinae)

-Tribe Emesini

-Genus Empicoris

-Thread Bug (Empicoris rubromaculatus)


The thread bug (Empicoris rubromaculatus) is a very slender, delicate true bug in the family Reduviidae (assassin bugs), subfamily Emesinae. It has an extremely elongated, stick-like body and long, thread-thin legs that give it a spidery appearance. The insect is typically pale brown to gray with distinctive small reddish spots or markings on the wings, reflected in the species name rubromaculatus (“red-spotted”). Thread bugs move slowly and deliberately and are often found on walls, tree trunks, or among spider webs, where they prey on small insects by impaling them with their piercing mouthparts. Despite belonging to the assassin bug family, E. rubromaculatus is harmless to people and is more notable for its unusual form and stealthy predatory lifestyle than for aggression.

Thread Bug

Empicoris rubromaculatus

Diet

  • Adults: Feed by piercing plant tissues with their straw-like mouthparts and sucking plant sap from leaves, stems, buds and developing fruits.

  • Nymphs: Also feed on plant juices and generally remain associated with suitable host plants throughout their development.

Range

  • Acanthocephala alata is a leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) in the subfamily Coreinae, tribe Acanthocephalini, genus Acanthocephala.

  • The species occurs in Mexico and Central America, particularly in tropical and subtropical environments.

  • It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where suitable tropical vegetation provides habitat.

  • Its relatively large size makes it conspicuous when encountered, although its brown colouration can provide excellent camouflage among branches and dried vegetation.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland, scrub, forest edges, gardens and agricultural areas.

  • Adults and nymphs are usually found on shrubs, vines and trees, particularly where young shoots, flowers or developing fruits are present.

  • In Zihua, check stems and branches as well as leaves, since these bugs can remain motionless and blend into the vegetation.

  • Adults may also occasionally be attracted to lights at night.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 15–25 mm (0.6–1.0 in).

  • Body elongated and robust, with the characteristic expanded hind tibiae of leaf-footed bugs.

  • Generally brown, reddish-brown or dark brown, sometimes with contrasting lighter markings.

  • The head and thorax bear prominent spines and angular projections, giving Acanthocephala its distinctive “spine-headed” appearance.

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