Emesinae are a subfamily of the Reduviidae (i.e., assassin bugs). They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predaceous insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night (many can be collected by blacklight). Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent monograph of this group.

Biogeography

The Emesinae are world-wide in distribution; however, they are most abundant in the tropics. For example, the tribe Metapterini, while having a world-wide distribution, has the majority of its diversity confined to tropical islands. The center of emesine diversity is apparently Africa. This continent contains the only species of the most plesiomorphic tribe, the Collartidini, while a more derived tribe, the Deliastini, is restricted to South America.