Bug Identifier
Pale Green Assassin Bug (Nymph)
Community identification

Pale Green Assassin Bug (Nymph)

Zelus luridus

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Reduviidae
Size
Adults reach 12-18 mm; nymphs provided in photo are smaller.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found on foliage, trees, and shrubs in gardens, forests, and fields throughout North America.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they prey on a variety of insects including beetles, caterpillars, and flies using an 'ambush' strategy.

Behavior Patterns

Diurnal hunters that use sticky resins on their legs to trap prey. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis from egg to nymph to adult.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial for gardens as natural pest control. They can deliver a painful bite to humans if handled roughly, but they are not aggressive.