Montain Bee Assassin

Apiomerus montanus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
Family: Reduviidae
Subfamily: Harpactorinae
Genus: Apiomerus
Species: montanus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Apiomerus montanus: //ˌæpɪoʊˈmɛrəs mɒnˈteɪnəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

2015.06.05 13.30.57 IMG 2590a - Flickr - andrey zharkikh by Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Apiomerus montanus dorsal by JerryFriedman. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Apiomerus montanus is a brightly colored assassin bug native to mountainous regions of the western United States and Mexico, recognized for its distinct coloration and predatory behavior on bees.

Physical Characteristics

Members of this species are black with bright red to deep plum corium. The pronotum is black or may have a few red spots. Males range from 14.0 to 16.0 mm, and females from 14.8 to 16.1 mm.

Identification Tips

Look for the coloration pattern, particularly the black body with bright red to deep plum corium. Size difference between male and female can also help in identification.

Habitat

Mountainous regions, specifically collected from altitudes between 1075-2896 meters.

Distribution

Primarily found in the western United States and Mexico, especially along mountain ranges.

Diet

Predominantly feeds on bees, displaying a behavior of sitting and waiting on flowers to ambush prey.

Life Cycle

Information on specific life cycles is not provided, but they exhibit some polychromatism and reproductive behaviors typical to assassin bugs.

Predators

Predators include larger animals deterred by the bright coloration which is a form of aposematism warning of a painful bite.

Ecosystem Role

Predatory role in their ecosystem, helping to control bee populations.

Health Concerns

The species can deliver a painful bite, though no specific health concerns are noted beyond that.

Collecting Methods

Hand collection
Use of sticky traps
Netting

Preservation Methods

Ethanol preservation
Drying and pinning

Evolution

Part of a diverse genus consisting of about 110 described species, indicating a significant evolutionary adaptation within the family Reduviidae.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Some older sources may confuse Apiomerus montanus with Apiomerus crassipes.