''Zelus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of insects in the family
Reduviidae
The Reduviidae are a large cosmopolitan family of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators: most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main exampl ...
, the assassin bugs. There are currently 60 described species; most occur in Central and South America, and five are found in North America.
Taxonomic Revision of ''Zelus'' Fabricius.
Heteropteran Systematics Lab. University of California, Riverside.
Some species have been investigated for their potential as biocontrol agents in integrated pest management
Integrated pest management (IPM), also known as integrated pest control (IPC) is a broad-based approach that integrates both chemical and non-chemical practices for economic control of pests. IPM aims to suppress pest populations below the econ ...
. ''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
''Drosera'', which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. 2 volumes. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous ...
.
Species include:
* '' Zelus annulosus''
* '' Zelus araneiformis'' Haviland
* '' Zelus bilobus''
* '' 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
External links
*
Reduviidae
Cimicomorpha genera
Hemiptera of Central America
{{Cimicomorpha-stub