Black Corsair
Melanolestes picipes
This record describes Melanolestes picipes (species). Recorded family: Reduviidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males macropterous (fully winged); female wings variable, often micropterous Can inflict a painful bite but does not feed on blood and does not transmit diseases.
Wikipedia reference for Melanolestes picipes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanolestes_picipes.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Superfamily
- Miroidea
- Family
- Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
- Subfamily
- Peiratinae
- Genus
- Melanolestes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Hibernates in woods and fields beneath logs. In spring & summer, found beneath stones, loose bark, piles of weeds, and other cover ( 3 ) Sometimes attracted to lights.
Geographic Range
e. US to Calif. (QC-FL to MN-SD-UT-CA) / Mex. to Brazil - Map , more common in e. than w. US
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Other insects. Reported to feed on May Beetles, Phyllophaga , attacking them from behind, holding on with spongy pads on legs.
Life History
Females often flightless, tend to live under logs, stones, etc. Adults overwinter under logs, in piles of weeds, etc. Males seen in open in spring. During mating, males use spongy pads on legs to mount females. Female stridulates with beak during mating. Eggs laid singly into soil beneath rocks. Males come to lights in summer.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Melanolestes picipes ( Herrich-Schaeffer 1846)
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Melanolestes picipes. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Black Corsair (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Bbarnd , Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Corsair
What is Black Corsair?
Black Corsair (Melanolestes picipes) is a species in the family Reduviidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How big is Black Corsair?
12-20 mm
How do you identify Black Corsair?
Males macropterous (fully winged); female wings variable, often micropterous
Where is Black Corsair found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Hibernates in woods and fields beneath logs. In spring & summer, found beneath stones, loose bark, piles of weeds, and other cover ( 3 ) Sometimes attracted to lights. |
| Range | e. US to Calif. (QC-FL to MN-SD-UT-CA) / Mex. to Brazil - Map , more common in e. than w. US |
What does Black Corsair eat?
The diet of the Black Corsair includes Other insects. Reported to feed on May Beetles, Phyllophaga , attacking them from behind, holding on with spongy pads on legs..
What is the life cycle of a Black Corsair?
Females often flightless, tend to live under logs, stones, etc. Adults overwinter under logs, in piles of weeds, etc. Males seen in open in spring. During mating, males use spongy pads on legs to mount females. Female stridulates with beak during mating. Eggs laid singly into soil beneath rocks. Males come to lights in summer.