---
title: "Common Assassin Bug"
description: "Pristhesancus plagipennis — Insects & spiders. Pristhesancus plagipennis is an Australian insect in the assassin bug genus Pristhesancus."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/common-assassin-bug
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Common Assassin Bug

> Pristhesancus plagipennis — Insects & spiders. Pristhesancus plagipennis is an Australian insect in the assassin bug genus Pristhesancus.

- Scientific name: *Pristhesancus plagipennis*
- Category: `insects` (Insects & spiders)
- Habitats: `urban` (Towns & gardens)
- iNaturalist observations: 9058
- Wikidata: [Q3404030](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3404030)
- iNaturalist taxon: [450938](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/450938)

## Names

- en: Common Assassin Bug

## Countries with the most observations

AU (8062), NC (78), VU (8)

## Summary

Pristhesancus plagipennis is an Australian insect in the assassin bug genus Pristhesancus. Amongst its prey is the bronze orange bug (Musgraveia sulciventris), a common garden pest. It is sometimes called the bee-killer assassin bug, as it is also known to prey on honey bees. The juveniles (nymphs / instars) have a distinctive bright orange abdomen.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pristhesancus_plagipennis

## Photo

![Common Assassin Bug](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/common-assassin-bug/medium.jpg)

Photo: Isaiah Findley · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110131470

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/common-assassin-bug?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).