I was working near the barn when a Wheel Bug landed on my shirt. I brushed it off onto a nearby picnic table and went back to work. It took wing from table and again landed on my shirt. I brushed it off. When it returned for a third time, I decided it just wanted to have its picture taken. Wheel Bugs are one of the group of assassin bugs and when an assassin bug demands your attention, you had better give it.
That beak folded back beneath the narrow head is used to suck the juices out of the bug’s insect prey. The bite of the Wheel Bug releases a toxin into the body of the prey that quickly paralyzes and kills. This toxin is what causes the severe reaction in humans bitten by the bug. The bite can take several weeks to heal, so it’s a good idea to be careful in your interactions with this creature.
The Wheel Bug is very alert and aware of nearby activity. I’m not sure of the function of the thoracic ornamentation. That spiked crest certainly makes it easy to identify this particular species.
The full wide abdomen suggests this is a female. Wheel Bugs overwinter as eggs, so this lady had better get busy with the egg laying. The holes along her side are called spiracles, sort of the insect equivalent of nostrils. The spiracles connect to tubes within the body that are used for oxygen and other gas exchange.
I think the most amazing feature of this insect is the elytral membrane, a portion of the wing that I call the thumbnail. The sunlight makes it glow an amazing gold or copper color. The flared abdominal segments bracketing the golden oval makes me think of an Egyptian artifact.
I was working near the barn when a Wheel Bug landed on my shirt. I brushed it off onto a nearby picnic table and went back to work. It took wing from table and again landed on my shirt. I brushed it off. When it returned for a third time, I decided it just wanted to have its picture taken. Wheel Bugs are one of the group of assassin bugs and when an assassin bug demands your attention, you had better give it.
That beak folded back beneath the narrow head is used to suck the juices out of the bug’s insect prey. The bite of the Wheel Bug releases a toxin into the body of the prey that quickly paralyzes and kills. This toxin is what causes the severe reaction in humans bitten by the bug. The bite can take several weeks to heal, so it’s a good idea to be careful in your interactions with this creature.
The Wheel Bug is very alert and aware of nearby activity. I’m not sure of the function of the thoracic ornamentation. That spiked crest certainly makes it easy to identify this particular species.
The full wide abdomen suggests this is a female. Wheel Bugs overwinter as eggs, so this lady had better get busy with the egg laying. The holes along her side are called spiracles, sort of the insect equivalent of nostrils. The spiracles connect to tubes within the body that are used for oxygen and other gas exchange.
I think the most amazing feature of this insect is the elytral membrane, a portion of the wing that I call the thumbnail. The sunlight makes it glow an amazing gold or copper color. The flared abdominal segments bracketing the golden oval makes me think of an Egyptian artifact.
She has a prehistoric look about her. Certainly not a very pretty bug,and I most definitely wouldn't want one landing on me! ~karen
ReplyDeleteI agree with KaHolly. Close ups could be used in a scifi monster movie. Perhaps they already have. :) Great images.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a wheel bug face to face. Great shots. Her beak is is much more heavy duty than the assassin bugs I am familiar with.
ReplyDeleteVery, very cool. I've seen many photographs but I've never encountered a wheel bug in person.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve...Remind me of all these weird bugs again if I ever say I'm coming for a visit.so I change my plans!!lol : }
ReplyDeleteIt sure does look like a Egypian artifact, real nice!!
Hi, Karen. I don’t mind having them land on me. I am concerned about inadvertently pinching one and having it bite me. I’ve read that it can take weeks of months for the bite to finally heal. I’m not anxious to test my healing capability.
ReplyDeleteWell, Lois, I haven’t seen the actual bug used in movies, but I’ve seen some bug beaked monsters that could have been modeled after this gal.
Wilma - The bigger the beak, the bigger the bite. These guys have an enormous bite.
Rebecca – These bugs are really well camouflaged. I see them most often walking on the sides of buildings or as in the case, landing on me.
Hi, grammie g - If you show up for a visit, I’ll be sure to keep the bugs under control. Since you’ve been walking so much, I keep watching down the road for you. You would be the first person ever to walk here from Maine.
...these bugs are so prehistoric looking...and creepy, but I always love reading about them.
ReplyDelete"when an assassin bug demands your attention, you had better give it"--that sentence made me laugh!
Hi, Kelly. I wonder if these guys had a five foot long prehistoric ancestor. That would be something to see.
ReplyDeleteokay so i was outside with my son today while he was playing and we go to walk inside the house and there was one on my door frame looked pretty cool. and i took a picture. we live in va. but i have never seen this bug until now
ReplyDeleteHi Southern Girl. I usually see two or three of these bugs each fall. They're really neat as long as you don't let them bite you.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI live in Kentucky, and my little boy told me today to come look at this weird bug. I grew up in the mountains, but now live in Louisville, and I've never seen anything like it. Since he's fascinated with bugs I caught it with a cup and bowl never realizing what I could have been getting myself into. When I found it on the Internet I was amazed. This my sound stupid, but what is it doing here? I'm 38, I can't believe I've never seen this bug before.
Hi 38. The Wheel Bug is found across most of the United States, including Kentucky. It spends most of its time in thick vegetation in its quest for insect prey. When frost and cold weather kill the plants they have been living in, the Wheel Bugs take off in search of more productive hunting grounds. As they move about, the bugs are more likely to be seen by people. The bugs have been busy laying eggs that will hatch next spring. Before long, cold weather will kill off the adult Wheel Bugs.
ReplyDelete