Assassin Bugs of Zihuatanejo

FAMILY REDUVIIDAE

• Animals Kingdom (Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera)

• True Bugs (Suborder Heteroptera)

• Cimicomorph Bugs (Infraorder Cimicomorpha)

• Superfamily Reduvioidea

• Assassin Bugs (Family Reduviidae)

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The family Reduviidae, commonly known as the assassin bugs, is a large and diverse family of predatory true bugs within the order Hemiptera. Comprising more than 7,000 species worldwide, assassin bugs occur in a wide variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, deserts, agricultural fields, and gardens. They are characterized by an elongated head, a strong curved beak (rostrum), and powerful forelegs adapted for capturing prey. Most species are predators that feed on insects, spiders, and other arthropods, using their piercing mouthparts to inject saliva that immobilizes and liquefies the tissues of their prey before feeding.