Common Australian assassin bug

Pristhesancus plagipennis

Caterpillars & bugs🦷 Bites

Danger to people: MildLike a bee sting or less. Basically harmless to people.

Common Australian assassin bug belongs to the group: Caterpillars & bugs. It lives in: Australia & Oceania.1

Lives in

Australia & Oceania1

Length

2.5 cm (1 in)1

typical adult size

Top speed

about 0.55 km/h (0.34 mph)

On land, rough guess

Venom power

Bites

Venom comes out through its fangs or teeth when it bites.

How dangerous is it to people?

Danger to people: MildLike a bee sting or less. Basically harmless to people.

🚑 If it bites or stings

For stinging caterpillar hairs: lift them off with sticky tape, then wash the skin. Do not rub.
For bites: wash and cool. Get medical help if the person feels unwell or bleeds easily.

Always call your emergency number first (112, 000, 911). This is general first aid guidance, not medical advice. First aid basics

⛑️ Stay safe

Never touch, catch or tease a wild animal, even a small one, and even if it looks asleep or dead.
Give it space. If you meet one, stay calm, step back slowly and let it go its own way.
If one bites or stings you: stay calm, keep still, call your emergency number (112, 000, 911) or get to a hospital fast. Remember what it looked like, a photo helps.

It is not out to get you. It uses its venom to catch food or to protect itself, and it would much rather hide. More about staying safe

Where in the world?

Africa Asia Europe North America South America Australia & Oceania The oceans

How big is it?

How long is it?

about as long as a paper clip

How big is Common Australian assassin bug compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

How fast is it?

A garden snail about 0.05 km/h (0.03 mph)

A tortoise about 0.3 km/h (0.19 mph)

Common Australian assassin bug about 0.55 km/h (0.34 mph)

A person walking about 5 km/h (3.1 mph)

A kid on a bike about 12 km/h (7.5 mph)

For venom experts

Scientific name: Pristhesancus plagipennis
Group: Caterpillars & bugs
Continents: Australia & Oceania
Danger to people: 1 / 5: Mild1

Where the facts come from

Venom Wiki: the danger level, the typical size and the speed guess are our own. See how we work them out: How we rate danger.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are animal fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

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