Ozark Critters - The Wheel Bug

[hethur240]

Arilus cristatus


Meet Mrs. Wheel Bug. She is a member of the family of assassin beetles. Female wheel bugs are longer and wider than males, getting up to an inch and a half long!





Wheel bugs have membranous wings that allow them to fly, albeit clumsily and with much noise. They sound like a large grasshopper flapping by.





A wheel bugs grips its pray with its strong forelegs, plunging in a beak-like proboscis. It then injects enzymes into its victim, paralyzing and dissolving it, then draining the resulting fluid.





Females lay 40-200 eggs in Autumn and then die. The eggs hatch the next spring.


Thanks for checking this long awaited edition of Ozark Critters out. I know it has been a very long time since I posted one. Most of our critters have either ended their life cycles, are hibernating, or have migrated to warmer climates. I'll keep my eye out though! You never know who you'll bump into out here. Haha!

Comments

[sallyswitchblade]

Cool! I've never seen one of these little critters. Thank you for sharing! <3

[hethur240]

Well, now if you do see one you'll know what it is and can impress Jason with your knowledge! Haha! Thanks, @sallyswitchblade. Love you!

[melinda010100]

That's a new one for me! Interesting critter!

[hethur240]

They're super creepy when they fly up on you. Not exactly a friendly bug. Haha!

[melinda010100]

Yuck. But they don't bite, right?

[hethur240]

Oh yes they do. They'll take a chunk of skin with them. They're not aggressive, just defensive. Not something you want to handle.

[melinda010100]

Oh. Then double yuck!!!

[mother2chicks]

If it’s out there to be found hethur can find it. Cool post. 🐓🐓

[hethur240]

Haha! Thanks, @mother2chicks. :)

[mother2chicks]

Can’t argue with the truth! 🐓🐓

[thomhoglen]

Very cool. I have lived around here my entire life, yet you always find creatures and locations I have missed.

[hethur240]

Haha! These guys are so metal-looking they're hard to miss. Thanks, @thomhoglen!

[mostly.nature]

Cool looking bug. Nice find!

[hethur240]

Thank you, @mostly.nature!

[makogul]

Its scary ,gave me goosebumps I hope it does not sting and is not poisonous, post up voted

[hethur240]

It doesn't sting...it bites! And it hurts!!! It isn't poisonous, just painful. Thanks for the upvote!

[abbijulie]

Love your bug info. Always so insightful. Love for you

[rizkigold]

if you can visit to my postamazing post @hethur240

[red717head]

I work at Orkin Pest Control. I stumble upon these little guys once in awhile. I enjoy seeing wheel bugs and the primantis. I was surprised that the wheel bug is actually the top predator in its ecosystem.

[hethur240]

They're really neat to watch! Thank you for your comment, @red717head!