About Zelus renardii Kolenati, 1857
Zelus renardii, commonly called the leaf hopper assassin bug, is a predatory insect belonging to the tribe Harpactorini. This species is diurnal, and can be found living on both wild plants and crop plants. Originally native to western North America and Central America, Z. renardii has since spread to three additional biogeographic regions across the world. Zelus renardii is recognized as the sister species to Z. cervicalis, because the two species share two unique physical characteristics: the lateral margins of the dorsal phallothecal sclerite are recurved, and the medial process has a strongly hooked tip.
