Pale Green Assassin Bug
Zelus luridus
Nymphs of this species scrape sticky resin from glandular plant hairs onto their forelegs to use as an adhesive trap for capturing prey.
- Scientific name
- Zelus luridus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hemiptera › Reduviidae › Zelus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, woodland edges, orchards, and suburban gardens.
- Diet
- Carnivorous generalist, preying on caterpillars, beetles, flies, aphids, and other small insects.
- Range
- North America, United States, Canada
- Size
- 12 to 18 mm (0.5 to 0.7 inches)
- Lifespan
- 1 year
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Broad-spectrum pesticide use in agricultural and suburban areas, and loss of diverse forest understory.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive. While beneficial to gardens and harmless if left alone, they can deliver a painful, burning bite with their proboscis if handled. Do not touch with bare hands. If bitten, wash the area with soap and water, apply a cold compress, and monitor for rare allergic reactions.
Zelus luridus , also known as the Pale Green Assassin Bug , is a species of assassin bug native to North America. It is the most common Zelus species in the eastern United States. The size ranges from twelve and a half to eighteen millimeters long. On average, adult females are sixteen millimeters long, while males are fourteen millimeters long. Though the base color is pale green, markings on the back can range from dark brown or red...
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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