Black Corsair

Subject:  Potential invasive?
Geographic location of the bug:  Palouse WA
Date: 06/26/2021
Time: 01:53 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found three of these in my house, was looking online to see if they were a native species but the only bugs I could find that resembled them were native to the southern states (texas, arizona etc)
How you want your letter signed:  Problems on the Palouse?

Black Corsair

This is a Black Corsair, Melanolestes picipes, and it is a native species, but Washington does not have any sightings according to BugGuide, however, that is only an indication that there have not been any submissions from Washington.  Exercise caution with the Black Corsair.  It can bite and the bite is reported to be painful.  According to BugEric:  “Be careful that you don’t ever mindlessly swat one of these insects if it lands on you.  the defensive bites of assassin bugs in general are excruciating, and the odds of being bitten go up when the Black Corsair comes to town.  Because they are attracted to lights, and run and fly with great speed and afility, the males may find their way indoors.”  According to BugGuide:  “Can inflict a painful bite but does not feed on blood and does not transmit diseases.”

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