ENY 3005 Family Identification
Hemiptera: Reduviidae
Pronunciation: reh-deu-VIE-i-dee
Common names: assassin bugs, thread-legged bugs, kissing
bugs, conenoses
Identifying characteristics:
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Antennae, 4-segmented; ocelli, 2; tarsi, 3-segmented.
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Short, stout, 3-segmented beak.
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Head elongate with transverse groove behind eyes.
The Reduviidae vary greatly in body size and shape, ranging from small
and either slender or robust to fairly long and slender like some walkingsticks.
The characteristic that distinguishes them from all other hemipterans is
the stout 3-segmented beak that fits into a grove on the prosternum. Once
students view a number of specimens from the side and become familiar with
this characteristic, this family is readily identified.
Note: The wheel bug pictured above is frequently picked up by
young children because of its interesting appearance. They quickly learn,
however, that this predator of other insects will inflict a painful bite
as a defensive tactic. Handle all reduviids with care!
References:
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Pages 119-121 and plate 3 in D. J. Borror and R. E. White. 1970. A Field
Guide to the Insects. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
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Page 119 in J. A. Slater and R. M. Baranowski. 1978. How to Know the True
Bugs. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 256 p.
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Page 145 in R. G. Bland and H. E. Jaques. 1978. How to Know the Insects,
3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 409 p.
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Page 301 in D. J. Borror, C. A. Triplehorn, and N. F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction
to the Study of Insects, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing.
875 p.
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Page 422 in H. V. Daly, J. T. Doyen, and A. H. Purcell III. 1998. Introduction
to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 680 p.
Links to other web-based material
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Reduviidae of Florida -- (PDF file, 720K) A literature-based key to 54 species of Reduviidae occurring in Florida
- Reduviidae -- Information and pictures by Steve Taylor, Illinois Natural History Survey.
Families of Hemiptera: Corixidae,
Notonectidae, Nepidae,
Belostomatidae, Gerridae,
Miridae, Phymatidae,
Reduviidae, Lygaeidae,
Coreidae, Pentatomidae.
Return to ENY 3005 Index to
Orders
Prepared by
John L. Foltz,
University of Florida, Dept of Entomology & Nematology, 29 Sep 1998. Modified 25 June 2003.