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Spined Assassin Bug (Sinea diadema)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Spined Assassin Bug.

 Updated: 3/12/2019; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org




A traveling hunter, the prickly Spined Assassin Bug looks just as ferocious as its method for dispatching prey.



Spined Assassin Bugs are covered in pointy spines or spikes. The purpose of them may be to fend off predators. The ones on the front legs and the head may aid in subduing larger prey. These little spikes all over the body give the Spined Assassin bug a formidable appearance. This insect hides in plant foliage or on flowers, waiting for an insect to pass by it. The strong front legs grab the prey and a long fang at the mouth repeatedly stabs the insect to death with rapid piercing movements. If handled carelessly, this fang can prick human skin creating a mighty painful wound.

Look for this brown Spined Assassin Bugs on flowers in meadows, gardens, and flower beds. Turn over leaves carefully as they may be under them, hiding. Check inside blossoms, too.
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Hemiptera
        Family: Reduviidae
          Genus: Sinea
            Species: diadema
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Sinea diadema
Other Name(s): Crowned Assassin Bug, Spiny Assassin Bug, Common Brown Assassin Bug
Category: True Bug
Size (Adult; Length): 10mm to 15mm (0.39in to 0.59in)
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: brown
Descriptors: spiky, spiny, thorny, prickly, fang, biting
Territorial Map
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Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
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Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
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Mexico
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.