Black Corsair
Scientific Name: Melanolestes picipes
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Reduviidae
Size: 13 to 20 mm (0.5 to 0.8 inches)

Natural Habitat
Under rocks, logs, debris, and occasionally near human dwellings, especially in wooded or grassy areas throughout North America.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds primarily on other insects like beetles and crickets using its piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Predatory and largely nocturnal. They are known for their ability to run quickly and are attracted to porch lights at night. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial to ecosystems as a natural form of pest control. While not aggressive, they can deliver a very painful bite if handled or provoked, though they do not transmit diseases to humans.
Identified on: 6/30/2026