Assassin bug or something else? - Ask Extension
I have attached a photo of an insect I located in my back yard (Austin, MN). Comparing it to the "Kissing bug" and the Western conifer seed...
Knowledgebase
Assassin bug or something else? #804576
Asked August 04, 2022, 9:55 AM EDT
I have attached a photo of an insect I located in my back yard (Austin, MN). Comparing it to the "Kissing bug" and the Western conifer seed bug, it appears to resemble the "Kissing bug" more. Please advise if you can identify. Also, I captured and froze it just in case.
Mower County Minnesota
Expert Response
We believe the insect is a kind of assassin bug, but not a western conifer seedbug or "kissing bug." We don't know what species.
As you have surmised, the insect in the photo appears to possess many of the distinctive assassin bug features mentioned here:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/assassin-bugs-and-ambush-bugs-reduviidae/
https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/assassin_bug.html
https://bugguide.net/node/view/166
