Zelus (bug)

Zelus
	Zelus renardii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Family:	Reduviidae
Subfamily:	Harpactorinae
Tribe:	Harpactorini
Genus:	Zelus; Fabricus, 1803
Species
	About 60, see text

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.^[1]

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:

Zelus annulosus
Zelus araneiformis Haviland
Zelus biloba
Zelus cervicalis
Zelus exsanguis
Zelus leucogrammus (Perty, 1833)
Zelus longipes – milkweed assassin bug
Zelus luridus Stål, 1862 – pale green assassin bug
Zelus renardii – leafhopper assassin bug
Zelus tetracanthus Stål, 1862

References

^ Taxonomic Revision of Zelus Fabricius. Heteropteran Systematics Lab. University of California, Riverside.

External links

"Genus Zelus". Retrieved 2008-09-14.

This Cimicomorpha article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Taxonomic Revision of Zelus Fabricius. Heteropteran Systematics Lab. University of California, Riverside.

[1]