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TranslateZelus renardii
Zelus renardii. (Kolenati, 1856) commonly known as “The leaf hopper Assassin Bug”
Family: Reduviidae
Length: Female: 10.50mm to 14.25mm. Male: 11mm to 13mm.
This is a common and widespread species found over most of the warmer countries in Europe and across the world into Asia and America.
Habitat: Their seems to be a wide range of plants
Z. renardii, is a welcome addition to organic control, for many gardeners and commercial growers. It is capable of preying on many different sized plant pests, these include, caterpillars, thrips aphids, mealybugs, with some prey being much bigger than itself.
It is very effective in catching its prey, by piercing with its pronounced beak-like antennae. This inserts a digestive enzyme which rapidly paralyses and kills its prey, which helps it to kill larger prey than itself. Unfortunately, I have seen many bees falling prey to this Assassin Bug as well. It uses a stealth like motion, as it moves slowly towards its prey with its legs lifted and its antennae poised to strike, a sticky substance, secreted by glands on the tibia (legs) increases the chances of a successful capture.
Assassin Bugs live for approximately 2 months, this being beneficial for them to be an ongoing pest control. Assassin Bugs start killing prey as soon as they emerge from their eggs, (small kidney shaped eggs light-brown in colour) which take about 10 days to hatch, depending on temperatures. They are a suitable alternative to ladybugs/birds in warmer climates. The eggs are glued and attached to a plant’s surface, typically the ventral surface of a leaf. Approximately 17 to 24 eggs are laid and hatch between 8 to 12 days
The adult and Nymph Z. renardii feed on a wide range of prey. Nymphs mainly feed on herbivorous insects between 0.5mm to 4mm in length, prey being mainly thrips, weevils and aphids. Adults feed on a large variety of prey from 1.5mm up to 19mm in length such as, Coleoptera (Beetles), Hemiptera (True Bugs), Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths), Blattodea (Cockroaches and termites), Neuroptera (net winged insects such as, lacewings, mantidflies, antlions), Hymenoptera (Bees. Wasps, sawflies and ants).
Read MoreFamily: Reduviidae
Length: Female: 10.50mm to 14.25mm. Male: 11mm to 13mm.
This is a common and widespread species found over most of the warmer countries in Europe and across the world into Asia and America.
Habitat: Their seems to be a wide range of plants
Z. renardii, is a welcome addition to organic control, for many gardeners and commercial growers. It is capable of preying on many different sized plant pests, these include, caterpillars, thrips aphids, mealybugs, with some prey being much bigger than itself.
It is very effective in catching its prey, by piercing with its pronounced beak-like antennae. This inserts a digestive enzyme which rapidly paralyses and kills its prey, which helps it to kill larger prey than itself. Unfortunately, I have seen many bees falling prey to this Assassin Bug as well. It uses a stealth like motion, as it moves slowly towards its prey with its legs lifted and its antennae poised to strike, a sticky substance, secreted by glands on the tibia (legs) increases the chances of a successful capture.
Assassin Bugs live for approximately 2 months, this being beneficial for them to be an ongoing pest control. Assassin Bugs start killing prey as soon as they emerge from their eggs, (small kidney shaped eggs light-brown in colour) which take about 10 days to hatch, depending on temperatures. They are a suitable alternative to ladybugs/birds in warmer climates. The eggs are glued and attached to a plant’s surface, typically the ventral surface of a leaf. Approximately 17 to 24 eggs are laid and hatch between 8 to 12 days
The adult and Nymph Z. renardii feed on a wide range of prey. Nymphs mainly feed on herbivorous insects between 0.5mm to 4mm in length, prey being mainly thrips, weevils and aphids. Adults feed on a large variety of prey from 1.5mm up to 19mm in length such as, Coleoptera (Beetles), Hemiptera (True Bugs), Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths), Blattodea (Cockroaches and termites), Neuroptera (net winged insects such as, lacewings, mantidflies, antlions), Hymenoptera (Bees. Wasps, sawflies and ants).
