
Community identification
Pale-green assassin bug
Zelus luridus
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Reduviidae
- Size
- 12 - 18 mm (approx. 0.5 - 0.7 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found on foliage of forests, gardens, and shrubbery across North America
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on a variety of insects including caterpillars, flies, and aphids using ambush tactics
Behavior Patterns
Ambush predator that uses 'sticky trap' strategy on its forelegs to catch prey; goes through incomplete metamorphosis
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial to gardens for natural pest control; can deliver a painful bite to humans if handled, though it is not medically significant