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Assassin Bug

Apiomerus pictipes

Description:

Females of Apiomerus collect resin and store it on the ventral surface of the abdomen in a sexually dimorphic patch of setae, scrape it off during ovipostion, and use it to cover their egg masses. The secretions protect the eggs from desiccation and egg predators, but are also used by early instar nymphs as a sticky trap to catch their first meals (From lifedesks.org)



1 species ID suggestions

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 months ago
Assassin Bug
Apiomerus pictipes Apiomerus pictipes | Reduviidae

6 Comments

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 months ago

Glad you liked the reference. I try to find ones that has some information. I too learn more that way and I find the behaviors of insects truly amazing.

Ignacio Gamboa
Ignacio Gamboa 10 months ago

BTW, Thanks a lot for that page, the info about the parental behavior is amazing!

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 months ago

You are welcome. Glad I could find a reference that put it in Costa Rica.

Ignacio Gamboa
Ignacio Gamboa 10 months ago

You're right gatorfellows, they are very similar, but when i noticed that the shape of the hemelytra was different i began to doubt of my ID and when was about to change it to Apiomerus i saw your suggestion. Thanks

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 months ago

Your guess of Rhynocoris iracundus is a similar bug in the same family, but the pronotum and abdomen markings are different than the ones in your photo. Its pronotum is black with two red marks. This one has an all red pronotum.

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 months ago

Another common name is Bee Killler

San José, Costa Rica

Lat: 9.80, Long: -84.13

Spotted on Jul 21, 2012
Submitted on Jul 21, 2012

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