---
title: "Milkweed Assassin Bug"
description: "Zelus longipes — Insecten en spinnen. Zelus longipes is an assassin bug (Reduviidae) that is a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/milkweed-assassin-bug
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Milkweed Assassin Bug

> Zelus longipes — Insecten en spinnen. Zelus longipes is an assassin bug (Reduviidae) that is a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily.

- Scientific name: *Zelus longipes*
- Category: `insects` (Insecten en spinnen)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Weiden en velden), `farm` (Boerderij)
- iNaturalist observations: 21518
- Wikidata: [Q8068843](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8068843)
- iNaturalist taxon: [133826](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/133826)

## Names

- en: Milkweed Assassin Bug
- es: Chinche asesina del algodoncillo

## Countries with the most observations

US (13604), MX (619), EC (319), CO (317), JM (223), AR (90), DO (77), HN (68), CR (57), PR (53), BR (38), KN (38)

## Summary

Zelus longipes is an assassin bug (Reduviidae) that is a member of the Harpactorinae subfamily. Its distribution ranges include southern North America, Central America, and South America (except Chile), especially in agroecosystems in Brazil.

Zelus longipes has been considered as a potential biocontrol agent, as it prefers caterpillars of Spodoptera frugiperda, which is a moth that is a pest in cornfields.  The species is a generalist predator, commonly used to combat picture-winged flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae), which cause damage to sweet corn yields in Florida.  Z. longipes prefers smaller caterpillars, probably…

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

## Photo

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

Photo: TheMongrelKoi · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94258426

## Machine access

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