Acanthaspis is a genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae), a family of true bugs. The insect appears black with distinct pale or white spots on the connexivum (edges of the abdomen) and wing covers, paired pale markings near the pronotum behind the head, and banded legs. These predatory true bugs feed on other insects, and some nymphs in this genus are known to camouflage themselves by attaching debris to their bodies. While beneficial for managing garden pests, assassin bugs can deliver a painful bite in self-defense if handled or accidentally pressed against the skin, or provoked. The area remains tender, warm, or itchy for a few days as the mild cytotoxic saliva reacts locally. An assassin bug (Reduviidae) crawls around an electric plug and the wall in the middle of the night. The bug gets caught in a spider's web, and two spiders rush over to seize it, but it breaks free and escapes in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 27, 2026.
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