Kingdom Animalia Infraorder Cimicomorpha Family Reduviidae Scientific name Zelus Phylum Arthropoda Order True bugs | Suborder Heteroptera Superfamily Reduvioidea Subfamily Harpactorinae Higher classification Assassin Bug Rank Genus | |
Similar Assassin Bug, True bugs, Insect, Zelus longipes, Zelus renardii | ||
Zelus is a genus of insects in the family Reduviidae, the assassin bugs. There are currently 60 described species; most occur in Central and South America, and five are found in North America.
Some species have been investigated for their potential as biocontrol agents in integrated pest management. Zelus is also known for a sticky trap predation strategy. Sticky resin produced from a leg gland is smeared on hairs to aid in prey capture. This is somewhat analogous to the carnivorous plant sundew.
Species include:
References
Zelus (genus) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA