COMMON NAME

Ground assassin bug

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Hemiptera

Heteroptera

Reduviidae

Ectomocoris ornatus

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Description

They have the typical appearance of assassin bugs; skinny neck, small head and conspicuous proboscis or rostrum. These assassin bugs are ground dwellers, living amongst leaf litter. The nymphs go through a number of wingless stages, becoming more like the adult with each moult

Adult size: 20 mm

Out and about

As they are predatory, assassin bugs will be about when their food source, namely other insects, are also around. They like warmer climates and in cooler areas the adults will over winter and emerge again in the spring. It is an Australian native found mainly along the east coast.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The female does not need to have her eggs fertilised but if she does mate it is in the warmer months. She lays a cluster of upright, vase-shaped, brownish-orange eggs, and dies soon after. The male will guard the eggs until they hatch. In cooler climates the adults will lay dormant over winter.

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Why they are Beneficial

Assassin bugs feed on many different insects and spiders, and will even cannibalise if there are not enough other insects about to prey on. Both adults and nymphs are voracious predators, but unfortunately they are indiscriminate hunters so they will get a few good bugs as well as many pests. They ambush their prey and then with their piercing proboscis they stab and inject saliva, causing the insides to turn to liquid which they then suck up.

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