Abstract
A checklist of 464 Indian species of assassin bugs under 144 genera and 14 subfamilies with their taxonomical status, their distribution in India and world over and their morphological characteristics are given. Members of the Harpactorinae are the most abundant group with 146 species and 41 genera followed by the Reduviinae and the Ectrichodiinae. The subfamilies such as the Physoderinae and the Ectinoderinae are represented each by two and lone species. Other characteristics of the family Reduviidae discussed in this overview include the rostrum structure, tibial pads, habitat characteristics, microhabitats and habits. Morphological characteristics are correlated with ecological, behavioural and biological manifestations of the reduviids.