Image Credit: Deborah S. taken in the Ironwood Forest National Monument, AZ
One of the true corsairs, the Western Corsair is an efficient assassin that does its best work at night.
A Western Corsair is a type of Assassin Bug, and it has a long fang or beak tucked under its ant-like head. This fang is used to stab insect prey, but if roughly handled by a human, it may use it to inflict a painful wound that can last for days. The long antennae bend close to the head. The orange-red color of the head and thorax distinguish it from other related Corsairs which have a black head and thorax. The front pair of legs are a bit thicker than the others. A large yellow dot sits in a black area on each wing. When both wings are closed over each other, the yellow dots align and look like a single spot. The sides of the abdomen are visible when wings are closed tightly like this, and a black and yellow checkered pattern can be seen on the slightly flared outer edges.
Its diet consists of a variety of other insects. It tends to remain out of sight during the day by hiding under stones, wood, and other cover. It comes out at night and may be attracted to lighting. Encounters between the Western Corsair and people are more likely to happen during twilight and dusk. Adults are most active from mid-summer through most of autumn.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hemiptera
Family:Reduviidae
Genus:Rasahus
Species:thoracicus
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Rasahus thoracicus
Category:
True Bug
Size (Adult; Length): 16mm to 20mm (0.62in to 0.78in)
Colors: orange; black; yellow
Descriptors: orange spot; yellow dot; flying; painful; biting; checkered side; black and yellow sides; big biceps
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.
Colors: orange; black; yellow
