apiomerus flaviventris

Sexing is easy in this family, as males lack the ventral setae entirely

Note the golden ventral patch of setae- this is used to store plant resins for later use and for oviposition. Without a resin coating, the survival rate of the eggs plummets sharply- with most dehydrating and dying inside the egg, or being predated upon by ants.

Penultimate instar, can now tackle prey larger than itself

Mature female Apiomerus flaviventris collecting plant resin for oviposition. A common host is encelia farinosa, but any kind of aromatic resins should work.

Concealed inside the already-formidible beak is a long needle-sharp proboscis that penetrates deeply, enabling them to inject their enzyme and liquify their prey's innards. Getting bit by any assassin bug will be extremely painful and the pain lingers for DAYS. No touchy!

The apiomerini are an unusual tribe of assassins that utilize plant resins in their predation, ecclosion and oviposition.

Bee assassins are a member of the resin bug tribe- these assassins utilize plant resins for hunting and oviposition, having a fuzzy patch of setae on the venter for resin collection.