The Pacific Ambush Bugs began emerging in my neighborhood over a week ago. Today, they seem to be fully engaged in ambushing. In a period of five minutes I found one in Boyle Ravine ambushing a butterfly, then, in my front yard, another one ambushing a bee. As with the Crab Spiders, the first clue is a butterfly or other large insect that does not fly away as I approach. Then, if it is not only still but upside down, there is probably a predator underneath sucking away at the bodily fluids of its prey. In this case, the Ambush Bug was not visible when I approached, but the butterfly way obviously dead. I pushed it aside a bit for the photograph and that didn't phase the Ambush Bug a bit.
The bulky front pair of legs can firmly grasp prey much larger than its possessor. I've seen the same bug occupy a flower for a couple of weeks, always waiting for a potential meal to land within its grasp. Very efficient!
This photo of the one in my yard eating a bee clearly shows the bulky front legs. The bee was still struggling a bit, but had no chance.
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