| Apiomerus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Apiomerus spissipes | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Reduviidae |
| Tribe: | Apiomerini |
| Genus: | Apiomerus Hahn, 1831 |
Apiomerus is a genus of conspicuous, brightly colored assassin bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae. The species can be found in the United States ranging into tropical America.[1] The common name bee assassins derives from their frequent habit of sitting and waiting upon flowers and taking bees as prey. The bright colors are aposematic, likely a warning to larger predators that a painful bite can be delivered.
Many species of this genus have a sticky resin pad located on their dorsal abdomen. The resin is thought to be derived from plant material and may play a role in defending eggs from predation, especially by ants.
The genus consists of about 110 described species.[2]
Species in the genus include:
- Apiomerus californicus Berniker & Szerlip, 2011
- Apiomerus cazieri Berniker & Szerlip, 2011
- Apiomerus cooremani Costa Lima, Campos Seabra & Hathaway, 1951
- Apiomerus crassipes (Fabricius, 1803)
- Apiomerus flaviventris Herrich-Schaeffer, 1846
- Apiomerus floridensis Berniker & Szerlip, 2011
- Apiomerus geniculatus Erichson, 1848
- Apiomerus hirtipes (Fabricius, 1787)
- Apiomerus immundus Bergroth, 1898
- Apiomerus longispinis Champion, 1899
- Apiomerus moestus Stål, 1862
- Apiomerus montanus Berniker & Szerlip, 2011
- Apiomerus peninsularis Berniker & Szerlip, 2011
- Apiomerus pictipes Herrich-Schaeffer, 1846
- Apiomerus pilipes Fabricius, 1787
- Apiomerus repletus Uhler, 1876
- Apiomerus rufipennis (Fallou, 1889)
- Apiomerus spissipes (Say, 1825)
- Apiomerus subpiceus Stål, 1862
- Apiomerus wygodzinskyi Berniker & Szerlip, 2011