Reduvius personatus
Reduvius personatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Heteroptera |
Family: | Reduviidae |
Genus: | Reduvius |
Species: | R. personatus
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Binomial name | |
Reduvius personatus |
Reduvius personatus or the masked hunter is an
Identification
Adult masked hunters are uniformly dark brown to black in color and vary in length from 17–22 mm.[4] They have an elongated head that includes a short, three-segmented beak, as well as long, slender antennae.[5] Their abdomen is wide, extending in the middle beyond the wings to reveal the lateral margins of their abdominal segments.[6] Nymphs of this species resemble the adult form and are naturally dark-colored, but often appear gray or light-colored due to a camouflage layer of debris covering them.[7] Nymphs exude a sticky substance that covers their entire body, including the antennae and all six legs, which causes dust, lint, and other small particles to adhere to the surface of their body.[8]
Natural history
Distribution
The masked hunter has a
Lifecycle
Masked hunters, like other Hemiptera, undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Early stages of the lifecycle look like small adults and are called nymphs. Normally, one generation of masked hunter bugs occurs per year. Adults are common during midsummer, but can also be found in the winter.[11]
Behavior
Nymphs of R. personatus use their hind legs and a
Both the nymphs and adults are predatory, feeding on various arthropods by piercing their bodies with sucking mouthparts.[13]
Masked hunters prefer dry habitats and are usually only found in small numbers when they infest houses.
Effects on Humans
Masked hunters deliver a sting comparable to a bee's sting when handled or trapped. The sting can cause swelling that lasts for about a week.
References
- ^ "Iowa State University BugGuide". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Getting Personal with Personatus". Retrieved 2016-07-05.
- ^ "University of Minnesota Yard and Garden Briefs - Masked hunters". Retrieved 2016-07-05.
- ^ "Pest Diagnostic Clinic, Factsheet on Assassin Bugs". Retrieved 2009-01-30.
- ^ "Assassin Bugs, HYG-2082-98". Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "A Literature-based Key to REDUVIIDAE (Heteroptera) of Florida" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "Masked Hunters". Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "Assassin Bugs, HYG-2082-98". Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "Iowa State University BugGuide". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "University of Minnesota Yard and Garden Briefs". Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Wisconsin Horticulture". UW Extension Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ Wierauch C. 2006. Anatomy of Disguise: Camouflaging Structures in Nymphs of Some Reduviidae (Heteroptera). Am. Mus. Novit. 3542: 1-18
- ^ "Michigan State University Diagnostic Services". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Masked Hunters". Retrieved 2009-02-22.