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.
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.
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.
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.
Emesa is a small genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Only four species have been described.
Phasmatocoris spectrum is a thread-legged bug species from the genus Phasmatocoris. It is found in South America, having been recorded in Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. The Colombia record was taken from a “Palma Real” tree in the forest interior. Phasmatocoris papei sp. nov. is described from French Guiana based on two male specimens. Short taxonomical notes on Phasmatocoris praecellens and Ph. spectrum Breddin, 1904 are provided. An updated key to the species of Phasmatocoris Breddin, 1904 is presented.
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.
Gardena insperata is a thread-legged bug species from the genus Gardena. It is found in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Bagauda zigzag is a species of assassin bug discovered in Taiwan in 2007 in an area of uplifted coral reef forest. One individual was observed to prey upon a spider. The species is nocturnal and individuals were most commonly found on Chinese banyan and King fig (Moraceae).
Stenolemus alikakay is a species of assassin bug, family Reduviidae. It was first found in a spider web at Shanping Forest Ecological Science Park, Taiwan. It has later also been found on Ishigaki Island, the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Schidium is a large genus within the subfamily Emesinae, distributed in the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australian Regions.
Acanthosoma is a genus of shield bugs in the family Acanthosomatidae, found in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. There are over 30 described species in the genus Acanthosoma.
