Reduviidae
Assassin Bugs
The Assassin bugs are a large family of predatory insects, but the vast majority of species are exclusive to tropical areas. Only 6 species occur in the British Isles.
Heath Assassin Bug (Coranus subapterus) - West Glamorgan, Wales - July 2011
Heath Assassin Bug (Coranus subapterus) - Anglesey, Wales - July 2008
The above heath assassin bug was beautifully camouflaged and only its movement betrayed its presence. Many other reduvid bugs have a much gaudier colour scheme...
Rhynocoris cf punctiventris - Lesvos, Greece - May 2006
In South America there are a few species of reduvid bug that feed on mammalian blood, particularly members of the Triatoma and Rodnius genuses. These insects are responsible for the transmission of the kinetoplastid parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas' Disease.
Tambopata, Peru - December 2008
Manu, Peru - December 2008
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