Species Information
Length 16-18 mm. A large and impressive black species of true bug.
The adults are seen May to September, and are attracted to light. The bodies of the young nymphs are covered in very sticky hairs which they use to cover themselves in dust and minute debris to help camouflage themselves after each molt. This helps them to sneak up on their prey and ambush them.
A synanthropic species, they live alongside humans benefiting from the association. They can be found in houses and outbuildings where they predate on other invertebrates like bed bugs, silverfish, lice, flies and spiders. They can give a painful bite if threatened and handled roughly. An infrequent species, they are not seen very often in Britain, and are mainly recorded in central and southern England.
Classification
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Insecta (Insects)
Hemiptera (True Bugs)
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Reduvius
Reduvius personatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Photographs
All photographs copyright © Peter Hillman
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