The Emesinae, or thread-legged bugs, are a subfamily of the Reduviidae. They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predatory insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night. They walk on their mid and hind legs; the front pair is raptorial. Some groups specialize on spiders. Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent revision of this group.
Ploiaria is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged bugs (Emesinae). There are presently about 130 described species.
Stenolemus is a genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Species of this genus are noted for preying on spiders.
Gardena is a genus of thread-legged bugs in the subfamily Emesinae. It is the second-largest genus in the tribe Emesini. Presently there are 46 described species.
The Leistarchini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs.
Ploiariolini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs, comprising 16 genera and 142 described species. Ploiariolini has a worldwide distribution.
Emesopsis is a genus of tropical bugs (Heteroptera) from the family Reduviidae. There are at least 22 described species, of which one, E. nubila, also occurs in southern Europe.
Bagauda zetteli is a species of assassin bug in the subfamily Emesinae found in Borneo. The species was described in 2005 and was found near the entrance to a cave.
Chinemesa is a little-known genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae) apparently endemic to Borneo. Only four species have been described and the three described by Wygodzinsky in 1966 have not been observed since.
Polauchenia is a genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Only five species have been described.
Phasmatocoris is a little-known genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Fourteen species have been described, including 3 from Colombia.
Empicoris is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Numerous species have been described.
Barce is a genus of thread-legged bugs in the family Reduviidae. There are about six described species in Barce.
Onychomesa is a little-known genus of thread-legged bug in the subfamily Emesinae. Three species have been described, one from India, Japan, and Taiwan.
The Collartidini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs restricted to Africa, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Wygodzinsky (1966) proposed that this group is the sister group of the remaining Emesinae.
The Ectrichodiinae are a subfamily of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) known for specializing on millipedes as prey. The group comprises more than 600 species in about 115 genera, making it a fairly large subfamily. The bugs are also known for their aposematic coloration, often brightly colored metallic blue, red, or yellow.
Proguithera is a genus of thread-legged bug in the Emesinae. This genus forms a group with two other genera, Guithera and Lutevula. The relationship between the group is unclear at the moment.
Collartida is a genus of assassin bugs. The genus was thought to be restricted to Africa, Israel and the Canary Islands, but a newly discovered species was recently reported from Taiwan. The genus currently consists of 11 species.
Schidium is a large genus within the subfamily Emesinae, distributed in the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australian Regions.
Oncerotrachelus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. There are about 14 described species in Oncerotrachelus.
