Stats

Lifespan

2-6 months

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Tropical savanna

Range

The Americas

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Warning Colors

Status

Common

About

Milkweed Assassin Bug, scientifically known as Zelus longipes, is a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily of assassin bugs. These insects are found in agroecosystems throughout Brazil and the surrounding regions, particularly in southern North America, Central America, and South America.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Reduviidae

Genus

Zelus

Species

Zelus longipes