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Zelus longipes
Milkweed Assassin Bug
Longlegged Assassin Bug
Zelus Assassin Bug
Florida native
In the United States milkweed assassin bugs are orange and black in color and can be found in the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast states, southern California and southwestern Arizona. In other areas the color can vary, most widely in the West Indies populations. The range also includes Central America and parts of South America.
The common name comes from the resemblance to the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus.
Zelus longipes is a member of the Reduviidae - Assassin bugs family.
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
University of Florida Entomology Dept. Featured Creatures page for this species
Date record last modified: Nov 21, 2017
