assassin bug
Stealthy insect hunter
Assassin bugs are predatory insects that ambush and kill other arthropods, stabbing prey with their sharp beaks and injecting digestive enzymes.
The name reflects their stealthy hunting style.
Some species bite humans painfully if handled.
The kissing bug, which feeds on blood and can transmit Chagas disease, belongs to this family.
Parasitic protozoan causing Chagas
- kissing bugBlood-feeding insect, bites sleepers
- vectorQuantity with direction
- bitePierce with teeth
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
painful sting · blood-feeding · disease transmission · zoonotic · tropical medicine · public health
Surprise strike from concealment
- preyAnimal being hunted
- venomInjected animal poison
- injectionSyringe-delivered dose
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
hunt · carnivorous · pierce · liquefying · capture · nocturnal · stealth · pounce
Elongated animal head appendage
- rostrumRaised speaker's platform
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- thoraxCentral body cavity
abdomen · compound eyes · forelegs · tarsus · chitin · segmented · six-legged · stylet
True bug order
- entomologyStudy of insects
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
genus · classification · subfamily · order · family · specimen · collection · identification
Adaptive resemblance to another
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- protective colorationConcealing pigmentation for survival
ambush predator · masquerade · camouflaged · hidden · lurking · blend · adaptation · deceptive
Trypanosoma cruzi
Parasitic protozoan causing Chagas
- kissing bugBlood-feeding insect, bites sleepers
- vectorQuantity with direction
- bitePierce with teeth
painful sting · allergic reaction · blood-feeding · disease transmission · zoonotic · tropical medicine · public health
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
paralysis · hunt · carnivorous · pierce · liquefying · capture · nocturnal · stealth · pounce · grip
proboscis
Elongated animal head appendage
- rostrumRaised speaker's platform
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
thorax · abdomen · compound eyes · forelegs · tarsus · chitin · segmented · six-legged · stylet · salivary glands
Hemiptera
True bug order
- entomologyStudy of insects
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
species · genus · classification · subfamily · order · family · specimen · collection · identification · morphology
mimicry
Adaptive resemblance to another
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
protective coloration · ambush predator · masquerade · camouflaged · hidden · lurking · blend · adaptation · deceptive · visual deception