The Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera . Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators; most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of nonpredatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable; they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and a formidable curved proboscis . Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.