About Emesaya brevipennis (Say, 1832)
Emesaya brevipennis is a New World assassin bug species that belongs to the subfamily Emesinae. This species has three recognized subspecies, and all three are found in North America north of Mexico. The nominate subspecies, Emesaya b. brevipennis, has the widest distribution of the three. In Southern Illinois, this subspecies has been recorded as bivoltine, and it develops through five instars. Emesaya brevipennis has been observed stealing prey from spiders, and also preys directly on spiders. Additionally, both larval and adult individuals of this species will prey on other members of the same species.
