As you might guess from the name, Assassin Bugs are stealthy and efficient hunters. They pack around a lethal weapon and can call upon a personal stash of toxins for chemical warfare.
This is a Zebra-striped Assasin bug, or Pselliopus spinicollis. I was excited to see it on the Buford Trail above the Oak Savanna exhibit. The genus name is a nod to the black and white stripes on its legs (psellion means bracelet in Greek, and pous means foot), and this species also has zebra-striped antennae.
These bugs are carnivores at all life stages. Adults use their pointy and all-purpose proboscis to stab a victim, such as a caterpillar or fly, inject a toxin to subdue the prey and liquefy its innards, and then slurp up the nutrients through the hollow tube, like a straw.
If you have a few minutes, the Deep Look video linked below does a great job of showing how P. spinicollis is associated with tarweed, and might even work with the plant to keep other insects from injuring it. Mount Pisgah often has areas where tarweed grows, and I’ll be sure to keep an eye on them for more of these impressive little bugs.
Younger nymphs of the species have orange bodies with black and white striped legs, and wing-pads that will later develop into functional wings. Zebra-striped Assassin Bugs spend the winter as adults, often hiding away in groups under bark, leaves or rocks.
Researchers are looking into the feasibility of using some of the species in this genus as biocontrol agents, enlisting them to help reduce the number of pests on various plants that humans care about.
Stay curious!
See more of Karen’s work here.
Sources:
KQED’s Deep Look episode about these assassin bugs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdzK-pTadQs. Accessed 6/27/25.
Mo Bugs with a profile of another species in the genus: https://mobugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/sycamore-assassin-bug.html. Accessed 6/27/25.
All photos by Karen Richards.