Reduviidae

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Reduviidae (order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera) Family of bugs, most of which are predators of other arthropods, which they seize with the front pair of legs. They range from delicate, gnat-like forms preying on mosquitoes to large, robust insects capable of tackling heavily armoured tropical millipedes. A few suck the blood of birds and mammals. There are more than 4000 species, occurring throughout the world but especially in the tropics. See also ASSASSIN BUG; KISSING BUG.

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