Species Apiomerus spissipes - Bee Assassin

Classification · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

brown and reddish bug - Apiomerus spissipes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)

Genus Apiomerus

Species spissipes (Bee Assassin)

Identification

A. spissipes is quite distinctively colored compared to A. crassipes. "...can be separated from A. crassipes by the bright red corium and pronotum". (1) Note also the yellow edging to the abdomen. See Internet references for other photographs.

Range

Southeastern and southwestern United States. Slater says: "Florida to Texas and Arizona". (1)

Season

Summer?

Food

Predatory on other insects

Remarks

A beutiful species of Assassin Bug, similar to Apiomerus crassipes, but more southern in distribution and much more brightly colored.

Print References

Slater, p. 122--description (1)

Salsbury, Insects in Kansas, p. 108--color photo (2)

Internet References

UIUC (a couple of photos on that page--nice comparisons with other species)

RKD Peterson's photos

Bob Jensen photography

A Literature-based Key to REDUVIIDAE (Heteroptera) of Florida--pdf file

Works Cited

1.	How to Know the True Bugs By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.

2.	Insects in Kansas By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White

Contributed by Cotinis on 28 June, 2004 - 7:47am
Last updated 25 June, 2006 - 3:54pm

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