Platymeris is a genus of assassin bug (reduviidae). Platymeris species are often used in laboratories and as pets. The venom of this genus has been studied in a laboratory setting.

Species list

Platymeris biguttatus

Platymeris biguttatus

Platymeris biguttatus is a venomous predatory true bug of west and southwest African origin ranging in size from 10–40 mm. As a true bug of the order hemiptera, it has needle like mouth parts designed for sucking juices out of plants or other insects instead of chewing. P...

Platymeris charon

Platymeris erebus

Platymeris flavipes

Platymeris guttatipennis

Platymeris insignis

Platymeris kavirondo

Platymeris laevicollis

Platymeris laevicollis

Platymeris laevicollis is a venomous predatory true bug from central Africa that can be found in forests, scrublands, grasslands, and croplands. They are efficient predators and are used by farmers on coconut plantations to control herbivorous pests such as the rhinoceros beetle...

Platymeris nigripes

Platymeris pyrrhula

Platymeris rhadamanthus

Platymeris rufipes

Platymeris swirei

Platymeris biguttatus originates from West Africa

West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...

, particularly the Togo

Togo

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...

 region. The adults are approximately 5 centimeters long and live in a dry climate.

Captive care

These insects are relatively easy to keep. They need a medium sized terrarium with many hides like bark and a good substrate is vermiculite or cork bark. They feed on many commercially available insects such as superworm

Superworm

Zophobas morio is a species of darkling beetle, whose larvae are known by the common name superworm or zophobas.Superworms are common in the reptile pet industry...

s, crickets, waxworms

Galleria mellonella

The Greater Wax Moth or Honeycomb Moth is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is the only member of the genus Galleria. It is found in most of the world, including Europe and adjacent Eurasia , and as an introduced species e.g...

, locusts, etc. Development from nymph to adult takes about 9 months; and adults live for about two years.

Breeding

Breeding is easy if you have both sexes. The female has a small slit in the end of her abdomen. The eggs are laid on the substrate and can be hard to spot. The tiny nymphs hatch about three weeks after being laid. First instar nymphs can be fed pinhead crickets and fruit flies

Drosophila

Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...

 and should be misted every other day in order to achieve successful molts.

Temperature and humidity

The optimum temperature is 25 C for these animals and low humidity for adults. A weekly spray with water is appreciated as the Assassin Bugs will suck the water droplets with their rostrum

Rostrum (anatomy)

The term rostrum is used for a number of unrelated structures in different groups of animals:*In crustaceans, the rostrum is the forward extension of the carapace in front of the eyes....

.

Bite

In order to liquify the contents of their prey, they use powerful toxins and enzymes. These insects can spit these enzymes in your eye causing severe irritation to temporary blindness if not washed with water. The bite is very painful and allergic people should take special care with these insects. When agitated, a droplet of these toxins is visible on its rostrum.