Milkweed Assassin Bug Nymph
Scientific Name: Zelus longipes
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Reduviidae
Size: Nymphs are 5-10 mm; adults reach 13-19 mm
Natural Habitat
Gardens, fields, and woodlands on foliage or ground litter; common in North America and the Caribbean
Diet & Feeding
Generalist predator eating caterpillars, flies, leafhoppers, and other small insects using a piercing-sucking proboscis
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal hunters that use 'sticky trap' strategies by coating their legs with resin to catch prey; they undergo simple metamorphosis
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial as biological pest control in gardens; can deliver a painful (but not dangerous) bite to humans if handled
Identified on: 5/20/2026