Apiomerus pilipes

Apiomerus pilipes, the bee assassin, is an insect that feeds on bees. It is found in South America and reported from Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, 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.

Apiomerus pilipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Family:	Reduviidae
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).