Assassin bugs
Assassin bugs are predatory bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae. They are medium to large elongated insects with distinct curved mouthparts held under their body. These bugs move slowly, lying in wait for a variety of insect prey before injecting it with a paralyzing toxin. Assassin bugs feed mainly on aphids, small caterpillars and insect eggs. They are solitary predators and rarely become numerous under natural conditions.
Assassin bugs can be mass produced by rearing them in plastic containers. As a food they are provided with larvae of beetles.
Signboard at the mass rearing facility of the bio-center in
Chiang Mai where assassin bugs are produced for farmers.
Assassin bugs can be reared by feeding them the larvae of
beetles.
Nymphs of Assassin bugs crowd together to drink from water
that is supplied on a sponge inside the rearing box.