Phymata americana
Silhouette: Richard J. Harris · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~60%
Phymata americana, known as the ambush bug, is a Phymatinae, or ambush bug in the family Reduviidae. It can be found on the flowers of various plants in Central America and North America, where it waits to prey on other insects.
Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net Phymata americana are found in open fields of flowering plants near rural forest edges, farms, and urban areas. Although P. americana can be found on many species of flowering plants, they tend to prefer either yellow or blue flowers over red or white flowers. Variation in flower color choice may reflect individual variation in P. americana color pattern, where individuals prefer flowers which match their own body color. This habitat-matching behavior may confer benefits for increased camouflage and prey capture ability. However, increased camouflage can also be achieved... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Salt Lake City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Dallas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Jagged Ambush Bug sighting in Denver on a given day, based on 261 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 461 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Jagged Ambush Bug in Denver on a given day, against under 5% in November to June, the lowest months. That is one of Denver's wettest months, with about 50 mm of rain against 15 mm in January.
Yes
Of the 8 cities where we can rate Jagged Ambush Bug sightings, Denver has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Montreal (Canada, about 10%) and Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (United States, about 10%).
Same family: Reduviidae
The closest relatives of the Jagged Ambush Bug that you can see in Denver (family Reduviidae, Assassin Bugs) are Masked Hunter (about 10%), Plains Bee Assassin (about 10%) and Pale Green Assassin Bug (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Jagged Ambush Bug is recorded against all the insects logged in Denver (261 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
