Apiomerus pilipes

The bee assassin, Apiomerus pilipes, is an insect that feeds on bees. It is found in South America and reported from Venezuela, Colombia, French Guyana, and Brazil. Like other members of the genus, females of this species have well-developed hind abdominal foliaceous appendages which can be coated with plant-derived resin.

Apiomerius pilipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Reduviidae
Subfamily:
Harpactorinae
Tribe:
Apiomerini
Genus:
Apiomerus
Species:
A. pilipes
Binomial name
Apiomerus pilipes
(Fabricius, 1787)

This species has been documented to prey upon meliponine bees (stingless bees), including Melipona compressipes and M. seminigra.[1] Usually, the bee assassin kills the prey species quickly (within 6–8 seconds).

References
  1. Alexandre Coletto da Silva and Hélcio R. Gil-Santana. "Predation of Apiomerus pilipes (Fabricius) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Apiomerini) over Meliponinae bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae), in the State of Amazonas, Brazil" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 21 (4): 769–774, dezembro 2004.


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